Alief group activist Joseph Dinnon, also referred to as Capo Joe, was one of many audio system on the weekend occasion. He stated it was necessary for the group to come back collectively to grieve and honor the kid’s reminiscence whereas standing collectively to name for justice and alter.
“We obtained to come back collectively and we’ve to talk up,” Dinnon stated. “There have been folks in these flats that did converse up, you realize what I am saying, however like I used to be telling them, generally you must go above and past.”
In accordance with Harris County Sheriff’s Workplace, Lee was crushed to demise shortly earlier than Thanksgiving final yr. His physique was left in an house alongside along with his three brothers, who investigators stated had been deserted and compelled to fend for themselves for nearly a yr.
Hedy Carter stated she has recognized the household for greater than 40 years and even watched the boys’ mom, Gloria Williams, develop up.
Carter stated she made a number of makes an attempt to contact Williams over the previous yr, and at one level, her calls had been blocked.
“This week has simply been horrific,” Carter stated. “It is heart-wrenching, devastating and we’re attempting to simply day-by-day make it by this ordeal. Each time we might get near her (Williams), she’d go. Get shut, she’d go. We did not perceive why on the time, however as you see this entire yr of occasions, we all know why now. She did not need anyone to know what had occurred, the way it occurred, when it occurred, so we had been like ‘What is going on on?'”
Carter described Lee as an obedient, candy and loving little boy.
Among the many crowd on the vigil, was 10-year-old Josh Todd. Todd used to play with the younger boys when his grandmother lived on the house complicated. His mom, Shadarra Todd, stated they needed to attend Saturday’s occasion to pay their respects.
“It is robust,” Todd stated. “These kids are going to have it arduous, most definitely, the rest of their lives, so it is undoubtedly heartbreaking.”
Todd stated she’s needed to have robust conversations together with her son about what to do and tips on how to converse up when one thing is happening.
“Bringing my little one out right here to let him know, all of those youngsters, that they’re cherished,” Todd stated. “That they’ve somebody to go to. The group got here out at the moment. Even in the event you really feel like you’ll be able to’t go to your dad and mom, you realize, possibly discuss to a good friend, discuss to a neighbor. If one thing is ever happening, discuss to a instructor. It’s a must to let somebody know.”
Matthew Mouton created a customized tribute for Kendrick Lee that learn, ‘Shield Our Youngsters’ together with photos of the 8-year-old, surrounded by candles and mementoes.
“I do not need these kids’s names or faces to be forgotten,” Mouton stated. “Simply cease the violence. On daily basis once I create one among these, and I believe it may be the final one, and it is at all times two, three, 4, 5, and it is getting uncontrolled, and we have to come collectively as a group and cease it.”
Assets to report little one abuse or neglect:
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
24-hour, toll-free abuse hotline, 1-800-252-5400.
The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
24-hour, 7-days every week nationwide hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD or 1-800-422-4453.
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