What Project Would A Laptop Help You With?

Stopping Gun Violence

Short Description Of Project

My son is Tyshawn Brockington. I raised him along with his four brothers here in Harlem, New York. On the night of September 11th 2011, Tyshawn and Robert Cartagena retaliated in the on going conflict between Grant and Manhattanville projects, resulting in the shooting death of 18 year old high school basketball hopeful, Tayshana Murphy.

At 4:00am my eldest son woke me up to turn on the news. NYC, police commissioner Ray Kelly was holding a picture of my son and Robert as the accused in the shooting.

I do not know what happened between Robert, Tayshana and my son. I do know that I am now a mother of a convicted felon serving a 25 to life prison sentence at Clinton Correctional in Danamora, NY. Tyshawn is 23 years old.

I am not a violent person, but I am also a victim of gun violence. Society advocates sympathetically for those who’ve lost loved ones to gun violence, but being a parent of the accused and convicted, I’ve faced harsh retribution for my son’s crime as well. I was afraid to leave my home for two years following my son’s arrest. I was afraid for my life.

Taylor Murphy, the father of the victim, Tayshana Murphy reached out to me and we met at a community meeting. Now we are working together to end gun violence in our neighborhood. I have never heard of parents on opposite sides coming together for the same persuit.

How Would A Laptop Help You?

With my donated laptop from Globetops, I will provide a support network for people like myself. I will establish support groups for mothers of incarcerated persons and those who have lost loved ones to gun violence. This support group is for everyone and anyone who needs a space to grieve and discuss the end to gun violence. Taylor, my self and activist Derrick Haines will continue to host peaceful rallies to end gun violence, especially here in Harlem, NY. I will be able to write speeches and connect with others on the web. I will be able to enlist the help of public advocates and generate much need support in the fight against gun violence.