Taking a stand against the wave of violent crime flooding the territory, local motivational speaker and columnist Devin "Dutchie" Robinson urged residents to join him early Saturday morning for a Peace Walk across St. Thomas.
"When you see the number of murders in our territory approaching 50, we must know that a simple speech is not nearly enough," Robison said in a recent statement. "We are in crisis mode. The citizens must get out in the streets that are being taken over by thugs and show them that we want our streets back.”
The walk, sponsored by Robinson’s Going Against the Grain group, will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at Red Hook Plaza and end at Emancipation Garden. Participants should gather 15 minutes beforehand to prepare for the walk.
Community members can help sponsor the event by donating water and other refreshments. Participants are also encouraged to bring along peace signs and the like and are being asked to wear plain white t-shirts — symbolic of the message of peace and unity sent across the island.
Robinson and concerned citizens will give a brief speech at the end of the walk, according to the statement.
A onetime juvenile delinquent, Robinson has spent years advocating against violence, drugs and gangs.