Martin Luther King Day events emphasize peace amid the city’s escalating violence

The city has a full slate of Martin Luther King Jr. Day events planned for the holiday weekend, with the preeminent event taking place on Monday (Jan. 16), the national holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader. Events include concerts, a day of service, art exhibits, worship services, and Monday’s march and ceremony to commemorate King during 60th year since the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. As street violence escalates in New Orleans — the nation’s murder capital in 2022 — organizers are emphasizing King’s message of nonviolence throughout the weekend’s events. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a symbolic staple of peace in our communities who spoke passionately of unifying our country nonviolently and truly believing the one way to end injustices in our communities is through non-violent approaches,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell in a press release.

Viewpoint: Has gun retaliation become a part of New Orleans culture?

Why are so many New Orleanians and visitors getting shot and even killed recently? The answer is fairly simple. People, especially our young people, are turning to guns to resolve the disputes that used to be handled less dramatically by cooler heads. Over the past few years, retaliatory violence has become as much a part of New Orleans culture as red beans and rice. We can’t arrest our way out of New Orleans’ crime problem.

Student injured in shooting outside Booker T. Washington High School

 

On Tuesday (Jan 10) at about 3:30 p.m., NOPD Sixth District officers responded to a call of shots fired outside Booker T. Washington High School on South Roman Street. Upon arrival, officers found a 16-year-old boy, identified as a student at the school, in the 3200 block of Erato Street who had been shot in the leg. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Police said the teen was standing outside the when someone opened fire from a passing sport utility vehicle, striking the teen in the leg. Two other students were also transported for precautionary reasons for non-gunshot injuries sustained in this incident.

Suspects sought in attempted ATM theft

The New Orleans Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating two suspects wanted in connection with the attempted theft at the Regions Bank on Tchoupitoulas Street. At about 4 a.m.  on Tuesday (Jan. 10), two men in dark hooded jackets were captured on the bank’s surveillance video. They appeared to be trying to break into an ATM in the bank’s drive-thru. They were reportedly not successful in their attempt to gain access to the contents of the ATM.

Will Thoth roll on its traditional Uptown route?

The Krewe of Thoth — the altruistic children-centric parade that historically rolls through Burtheville and Hurtsville before heading down Magazine Street — hopes to return to its roots Uptown. Due to police shortages in 2022, the Krewe of Thoth lost over a mile of its Uptown route, including the Henry Clay and Magazine Street portion. Its unique route was designed 75 years ago to bring Carnival to the patients at Children’s Hospital and other institutions. “We’re trying to work it out,” said Pendleton “Penny” Larson, spokesperson for Thoth. “We’re still learning how the rules are going to play out.”

Police blotter: Two carjackings in Lower Garden District, shooting in Hoffman Triangle

Two carjackings and a shooting were reported in Uptown neighborhoods during the weekend, according to the New Orleans Police Department. A 47-year-old man was carjacked early Monday (Jan. 9) near the Pontchartrain Expressway exit on Tchoupitoulas Street. Soon after the carjacker took possession of the car at about 12:45 a.m., it got stuck and was abandoned, police said. A woman was carjacked Saturday (Jan.

Christopher A. Etienne, Sr., Letters from a Father: Empathy and Character (sponsored)

Dear Son:

The scripture teaches parents that we should “train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it” Proverbs 22:6. I believe and follow that scripture as an anchor to my fatherhood. Indeed, being a father to you, Christopher A. Etienne, Jr., is my most important job. I constantly reflect on when I first laid eyes on you, when you were born in 2019. I had no doubt the second I saw this gift from God with that gentle smile and big eyes looking up at me, I said, I will make sure to get you as healthy as possible with the help from the Lord. Indeed, the Lord continues to answer my prayers.