Southeast DC neighborhood rallies to stop violence, boycott liquor store

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — It’s been one week since three women were shot on a street in Southeast. Now, the area’s neighborhood association says it’s had enough, rallying for change and boycotting a liquor store.

“Stop the killing and shut ’em down,” one man shouted into a megaphone.

The Nelson Place Block Association along with several other groups are fed up with the violence in their neighborhood.

“We’re tired of it. Sick and tired of the crime. Sick and tired of the violence,” said Malik Shabazz, attorney for the Nelson Place Block Association.

Last year a man was shot and killed on the 2900 block of Nelson Place. And exactly one week ago on July 23, three women were shot after police say a 16-year-old fired his gun down the block into a crowd of people. That boy was arrested just two days later.

“When you have a 16-year-old who gunned down three girls, that makes it sound like we need to do better with our playgrounds and recreation [and] our schools,” said Mr. Uhuru, one of the members of the neighborhood association.

Many of the group’s concerns center on the corner liquor store, O’Connor’s. The store did put up a notice saying they would be closed only on Tuesday out of respect for the three women who were shot.

The group wants it shut down.

“We start here by shutting down the liquor store, which attracts…crime and violence and we’re overall cleaning up the block in our neighborhood as men because we’re not going to tolerate any longer,” Shabazz said.

Shabazz and a dozen others marched up and down the block on Tuesday calling for change. He said the District government and D.C. police need to pay more attention.

“The Metropolitan Police Department has done an excellent job in terms of watching and observing, but we are not satisfied,” Uhuru said.

Part of their plan is to boycott O’Connor’s Liquor store.

In granting a renewal of its liquor license three years ago, the store agreed to request loiterers to move when they’re outside, discourage illegal drinking inside and outside and keep the area well-maintained and free of trash.

“The only cleanliness and maintenance are these strong black men walking up and down the street telling our babies that we gotta stop this killing,” Uhuru said.

Several people told DC News Now that their focus is misplaced and the liquor store isn’t the problem.

DC News Now was unable to get in contact with O’Connor’s’ owner.

This group says they’ll be back Saturday to boycott.

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