Court Street residents and businesses are calling for unity in the community following the shooting death of Raymond ‘Yankee’ Rawlins.

Members of UP, formerly the Uptown Market Association, joined with stakeholders from the Corporation of Hamilton, Chewstick Foundation and the Economic Empowerment Zone agency this morning to show their support for the neighbourhood.

Mr. Rawlins was fatally shot at Spinning Wheel nightclub on Court Street Monday morning.

Gavin Smith, of Chewstick, suggested the community wave white flags as a means of promoting peace.

“I am challenging everyone to raise a white flag — put it on your doorstep, put a white flag on your car, put a white flag on the City of Hamilton. We need everyone to show complete solidarity — it’s not a black issue, it’s not a white issue, it is a people issue. It’s our issue.”

For the full story see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.