Black community leaders declare “state of emergency” after violent month in Boston

DORCHESTER, Mass — Friends and neighbors lit candles outside Celebrity Cut Barbershop Friday night, two days after 43-year-old barber Max Hylton was shot and killed.

“It’s just happening too often. I don’t know why and it needs to stop,” neighbor Tyla said.

Hylton’s death Wednesday followed three shooting deaths over the weekend. A 7-year-old was caught Thursday with a loaded gun inside Up Academy Holland School in Dorchester.

Community activists said they’ve been sounding the alarm for weeks but complain they haven’t received an adequate response to the violence from City Hall. Rev. Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democracy Coalition, declared his own “state of emergency” in Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester.

“Black people are human also, to the extent we deserve equal treatment,” Peterson said. “We ask for a partnership with the city to help us address this issue…I don’t think it’s difficult for the police commissioner to at least create a community policing plan.”

Peterson said community leaders will begin holding their own private meetings next week to devise a safety plan that doesn’t involve police.

“We tried to articulate to [Boston Police] Commissioner [Michael] Cox in the clearest way possible that we’re living in a state of emergency, that we’re in pain. There’s a level of desperation. Listen to us,” Peterson said.

Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said her office did meet earlier in the week with city officials and local clergy to “discuss a community response to the recent uptick in violence.”

“Boston works best when our City departments, faith leaders, and residents work together on our shared goals,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “Earlier [Friday] morning, she attended a weekly meeting held by City officials to coordinate around issues of youth safety.”

Mayor Wu also addressed the issue outside Up Academy Holland School Friday morning.

“We need everyone to be a part of this. It can’t just be teachers in schools or police officers who are responding to calls. It’s a time when we really need to get down to wrapping around our young people and to hold the adults who are responsible for this accountable,” Wu said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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