Vigil held for 8-year-old Kendrick Lee, little boy whose body was found a year after he was killed
Alief neighborhood activist Joseph Dinnon, often known as Capo Joe, was one of many audio system on the weekend occasion. He mentioned it was essential for the neighborhood to return collectively to grieve and honor the kid’s reminiscence whereas standing collectively to name for justice and alter.
“We received to return collectively and we have now to talk up,” Dinnon mentioned. “There have been folks in these residences that did communicate up, you realize what I am saying, however like I used to be telling them, typically you need to go above and past.”
In response to Harris County Sheriff’s Workplace, Lee was overwhelmed to demise shortly earlier than Thanksgiving final yr. His physique was left in an house alongside along with his three brothers, who investigators mentioned had been deserted and compelled to fend for themselves for nearly a yr.
Hedy Carter mentioned she has recognized the household for greater than 40 years and even watched the boys’ mom, Gloria Williams, develop up.
Carter mentioned 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 mentioned. “It is heart-wrenching, devastating and we’re attempting to only day-by-day make it by means of this ordeal. Each time we would 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 advanced. His mom, Shadarra Todd, mentioned they needed to attend Saturday’s occasion to pay their respects.
“It is powerful,” Todd mentioned. “These youngsters are going to have it laborious, probably, the rest of their lives, so it is undoubtedly heartbreaking.”
Todd mentioned she’s needed to have powerful conversations along with her son about what to do and learn how to communicate up when one thing is occurring.
“Bringing my little one out right here to let him know, all of those children, that they’re liked,” Todd mentioned. “That they’ve somebody to go to. The neighborhood got here out right this moment. Even in the event you really feel like you may’t go to your mother and father, you realize, perhaps discuss to a good friend, discuss to a neighbor. If one thing is ever happening, discuss to a instructor. You must let somebody know.”
Matthew Mouton created a customized tribute for Kendrick Lee that learn, ‘Defend Our Youngsters’ together with footage of the 8-year-old, surrounded by candles and mementoes.
“I do not need these youngsters’s names or faces to be forgotten,” Mouton mentioned. “Simply cease the violence. On daily basis once I create one among these, and I feel it is going to 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 neighborhood and cease it.”
Sources 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 per week nationwide hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD or 1-800-422-4453.
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