The Milwaukee Community Journal April 29, 2015 Page 2
THE PULSE
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HEALTH ADVOCACY AGENCY CREATES PETITION AGAINST TOY GUNS
James Beckum, one of the founders of the Beckum-Stapleton Little League addressed Little Leaguers, their parents, coaches and city officials at a past ceremony opening the Little League baseball season and the renaming of a park after Beckum. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
Beckum Stapleton Little League Holds its Opening Day Parade & Ceremony for the 2015 Little League Season
Beckum Stapleton Little League, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2015) – Beckum Stapleton Little League will hold its Opening Parade & Ceremony for this year’s Little League Season on May 2, 2015, starting at 11:00 a.m. with the Parade from the Clinton Rose Park. Beckum Stapleton Little League is chartered by Little League for (BASEBALL: Tee Ball, Minor, Major, and Junior Division) Special mention for the start of this season include the honoring of Jimmie Ruth Beckum, the wife of James Beckum, who passed away earlier this year. She was a solid part of the foundation of the League and we will honor her legacy this season by wearing a badge with her initials on the jerseys. Also we would like
“Airsoft guns” is a generic term for realistic replica toys or training devices that are made to look like real firearms and fire 6mm plastic pellets. (Photo by Rob Pincus-personaldefensenetwork.com) having toy guns police officers thought were real guns. Some may say kids have played with toy guns for generations. Dr. McManus argues that violence has increased so dramatically that children can no longer innocently play with toy guns. There has been a desensitizing to violence based on exposure to gun violence in video games and movies. The constant exposure has normalized violence. Dr. McManus asserts that there is a direct correlation CALL-TO-ACTION ISSUED TO BLACK with the playing of guns as kids and the involvement with violence later in life. McManus believes mixed messages MOMS AND GRANDMOTHERS are given to kids when they are allowed to play with toy At a time when the Black community in Milwaukee guns, “they don’t have the ability to discern the difference and across the country is being traumatized by inplaying and the deadly consequences that come between creased gun violence, Black Health Coalition of Wiswith real guns.” consin, Inc. (BHCW) has created the Black Moms and For over 25 years, BHCW has been a strong voice Grandmothers Against Toy Guns petition through Color against racial health disparities. The agency’s health adof Change. “We are offering this petition as one way to vocacy approach works to address the broad spectrum of address a very complex issue,” stated Dr. Patricia Mcissues that impede the community’s health. Gun violence Manus, President/CEO of Black Health Coalition of terrorizes communities unlike other crimes, the impact Wisconsin, Inc. permeates throughout the community. The petition offers African Americans, who make up only 6.5 percent of community a way to be a part of the solution to end the Wisconsin’s population, accounted for two-thirds of its gun violence. An awareness campaign such as this may firearm homicide victims in 2014. Blacks in Wisconsin seem simple, but awareness is the first step to behavioral were more than 30 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites change. to die in gun homicides. From 2008 to 2012, federal staAlthough the anti-toy guns petition is addressed to tistics show, this ratio was 20 to 1 for Wisconsin and 10 Black moms and grandmothers, BHCW welcomes Black to 1 for the nation. dads and grandfathers, as well as people from other comIn 2014, three Milwaukee kids age 10 and under were munities, to support the call-to-action. “Moms and grandfatally shot. So far in 2015, gun violence injuries and are the backbone of the Black community,” Dr. mothers deaths in Milwaukee are rapidly nearing the overall total McManus stated, “Black grandmothers play a crucial role for 2014. to children, she continued. It is without question that viable solutions to eradicate “Oftentimes it is the mother burying their sons who gun violence in the Black community are needed. The have died due to gun violence and the grandmothers who rate of gun related deaths in the African American comare left to raise the grandchildren.” She urges everyone munity is much higher than the national average. to take an active role in eradicating gun violence. This violence occurs within the Black community; This sentiment is echoed by one of the petition signers: whether through gang activity, robberies, unintentional “I'm not Black, and I'm not a mother, but this could be injuries and other methods. All too often lately there has piece of the puzzle to reduce violence.” one been increased gun violence perpetrated on Black people The Black Moms and Grandmothers Against Toy Guns by the police. Some of these cases involved the victims can be accessed via BHCW’s website, www.bhcw.org.
to acknowledge the supporters that have supported the League, including a special donation this season by J.P. Morgan Chase and GloballGiving. Opening Day Parade & Ceremony is the official kickoff to the 2015 season for the Beckum Stapleton Little League. This year, there is even more to celebrate, as League celebrates its 50th Anniversary as a Little League Affiliate. “Our Opening Ceremonies are always a wonderful day to celebrate our players, parents and volunteers,” said Tasha Jenkins, League President. “This year is extra special as we honor those that have been the foundation of the League and those that continue to support our efforts. We’re excited to kick off our new season and looking forward to a great year of baseball.” For 76 years, Little League has provided communities around the world the opportunity for families to connect and for children to come together in a healthy, safe environment to learn the values of team sports and the fundamentals of baseball and softball. Beckum Stapleton Little League is proud to be able to provide this opportunity to our community. The season will run until July 2015, and continue through the tournament season. The League continues to seek volunteers for various functions during the season.