Following the city of Boston’s sudden cancellation of a memorial ceremony scheduled to commemorate the shooting’s fifth anniversary, a Roxbury lady who lost her son to gun violence stated last week that she felt deceived by the city. In her response on Wednesday, Mayor Michelle Wu provided additional details on the reason behind the cancellation of the event and offered to assist the family in finding an alternative venue.
Last week, a Facebook user going by the name Irma Matos shared her perspective on the matter. In 2020, her 19-year-old son, Tierece Wiley, was killed in Roxbury. She added that the Boston Police Department has yet to offer any clarification or explanations.
To commemorate the fifth anniversary of Wiley’s passing, Matos and her family organized a memorial barbecue and carnival. It was scheduled for Monday on Roxbury’s Circuit Street. The city granted the family permission and provided financial assistance to help with the costs. Days before the memorial, however, she stated, the city informed her that the permission was being withdrawn.
Five years later, we are being let down once more, she wrote. This goes beyond a simple cancelation. It’s a betrayal.
Later, Matos shared a screenshot apparently demonstrating that she had received $700 from the city for a canceled block party grant.
My son’s murder has left a scar that might never go away. However, the denial of this commemoration causes additional suffering. Matos remarked, “Our city talks about equity, justice, and healing, but those words disappear when it matters most.”
When Wu appeared on the Java with Jimmy show Wednesday morning, he was questioned about the circumstances.
According to her, the city’s block party program was established with the idea that locals would apply for subsidies to pay for events in their neighborhoods. Since Wiley was killed on Circuit Street, Matos hoped to hold the event there.
Wu claimed that the program’s setup did not provide enough information to recognize that this was a different kind of situation than is typically the case.
In this instance, the mayor added, the neighbors who actually reside in the immediate vicinity of the memorial site did not feel at ease and did not participate in the block party application process.
Wu stated that if Wiley’s family would want to hold the block party at a different place, the grant may still be used to honor him. According to her, the city is prepared to collaborate with the family to find possible sites.
This is the third year of the block party program. The outdoor events, which also need a special permit, are open to residents and community organizations who can apply for grants of up to $750. The city gave out 52 grants totaling over $30,000 last year.
Wu, who assumed office following Wiley’s passing, takes great satisfaction in having led a significant drop in the city’s homicide rate and frequently promotes Boston as the safest major American city.
According to her, we must do everything in our power to support families who have already been touched and to provide resources and support, in addition to preventing and reducing the number of cases year after year going forward.
Since 2022, Ross Cristantiello has been a general assignment news correspondent for Boston.com, covering a variety of topics including as local politics, crime, and the environment.
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