23 November, 2014

Dear Sir,

In the recent weeks the sounds of gunshots have permeated the air all over the island. Reckless and senseless shooters have fired shots in a number of places where parents, teens, and children were all present in what otherwise would be a community friendly environment; on one of those occasions four young men were shot in one night.

The community is crying out to you “Wake up Young Men, stop the violence, fulfil your potential!”

We are brothers; we live together on a 22 square mile island only miles apart from each other

Yet we share a deep hatred for one another

Many of us are related to one another

Yet we fight each other

We grew up together, and went to school together

Yet we try to kill each other

On 25 separate occasions we have killed each other. The gang violence that has plagued our island over the years has created a non-stop perpetuating cycle of retaliatory acts; but my brothers, we must ask ourselves when will the madness stop? When will we realise that we are only hurting ourselves and our families?

The community is crying out to you “Wake up Young Men, stop the violence, fulfil your potential!”

I find myself weekly in the courts with my mentors fighting for young men who have been accused of crimes involving firearms and it is never an easy task when a young man is murdered, and another young man is brought before the courts. Regardless of the verdict one family will forever mourn the loss of their son, whilst the other if the accused is found guilty will hurt at never being able to see their relative free again. Children growing up without their fathers, households without men, children growing up with resentment and a perpetuating cycle begins again. Stop the war; there are no winners!

The community is crying out to you “Wake up Young Men, stop the violence, fulfill your potential!”

If the violence continues as it has been the criminal defence segment of the legal fraternity will continue to be employed. However, as a young Bermudian man I would rather exercise and display my talent in Parliament fighting to change legislation to enhance the lives of the young men of this island as opposed to being employed as a result of this perpetuating violence.

My boss often reminds me that we cannot control who we represent and says that in this profession we are like doctors, they don’t control who shows up at the emergency room in need of help similar to how we can’t control who will end up arrested and before the courts in need of assistance.

However, for me personally, I grow close with the young men that I work with, especially after enduring months of trials together. I truly do care for each and every young man that I have worked and I fear that the next phone call we may receive could be that they have been the victim of one of these senseless murders.

Like your parents I am terrified that the prison count will rise in tandem with the body count.

The community is crying out to you “Wake up Young Men, stop the violence, fulfill your potential!”

Let’s be real, the men on both sides of the gun are predominantly black young men. We are black men and we all have the same ancestors; in a small island like Bermuda it is not surprising that in some cases the young men feuding are actually related to one another in one way or another.

There should be unity among all young men island wide. It is unfortunate that as black men we are the most violent towards each other and the most separated when it comes to unity. This is genocide among black young men. I didn’t always wear a suit and tie; I understand what it is like as a young man, we have an ego to feed. We must let go of the past, as it cannot be changed or erased no matter how much we may like it to be.

Anyone can fire a gun, that is easy to do but it takes a real man to provide for care for their mother, care for their family, and take care of their kids. Remember that!

We must realise that in a war, when there is any loss of life there is no winner. Please “Wake up Young Men, stop the violence, fulfil your potential!”

ERON HILL