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'WAKE UP, SURREY' Rally Calls For An End To Drug And Gang Violence

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Jun, 2018 10:54 AM
    A ‘Wake Up’ rally against gang violence was organized on the evening of June 13 near Surrey City Hall. This rally comes into force after the shocking death of two teenagers, Jaskarn (Jason) Singh Jhutty, 16, and Jaskaran (Jesse) Singh Bhangal, 17, who were killed in a targeted shooting in the Campbell Heights neighbourhood. 
     
     
    Police say the shootings were targeted, although the young victims were not known to them and their families say neither had any link to gangs.
     
     
    About 8,000 to 10,000 people attended this rally to demand accountability from government authorities and elected politicians and to end the issue of gang violence. 
     
     

    Wake Up Rally starts in Surrey

    Posted by OMNI Punjabi on Wednesday, 13 June 2018
     
     
    The press release sent prior to the Jago and Jagao (Wake up and wake up)! rally stated: “Surrey parents, the time has come to speak up and ask our elected politicians for an answer.
     
     
    In these past years, what has been done at the grassroots level to eradicate gang violence in Surrey?” Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, along with many residents of Surrey, community leaders, members of various organizations, including parents of the two deceased teenagers were part of this much-needed rally.
     
     
    “The aim was to wake up Surrey, wake up parents and politicians, schools and everyone regarding the issue of gang violence. Enough is enough, it is time to see and face the real crisis,” states Gurpreet Sahota, editor of Charhdi Kala and Akal Guardian Punjabi Newspapers and organizer of the rally. He noted that the participation in thousands only inculcates that “people are angry and grievous and they need answers.”
     
     
    Many community members and activists spoke at the rally, including retired Surrey RCMP Staff Sergeant Jack Hundial.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Sahota points out that though there are various measures taken to prevent gang violence from increasing, not enough is done.“There is just lip service but no enough ground work. There is also a lack of resources and more funding is required. And most importantly accountability is needed from everyone,” he expresses.
     
     
    Salma Naz, principal at iLearn DL Secondary School and rally organizer, says change will require public education and a new approach by police and the school system, while B.C.’s Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the provincial government is working with groups to identify new initiatives.
     
     
    “We have given the city authorities about six weeks of time to catch the culprits and bring justice to the victims. After that we will decide on how to protest again. We need results and we will not sit idle,” says Sahota about the next step so that local government and politicians are held accountable and create more preventive measures against gang violence.
     
     
    The organizers are also working on alternatives and have received support from community veterans like Canadian lawyer and former judge Wally Oppal to work on this crucial issue. “We are also working with the School Board to educate parents on how to prevent this situation and protect their kids,” adds Sahota
     
     
    Post the rally, five Members of Parliament from Surrey, Randeep Sarai, Sukh Dhaliwal, Ken Hardie, John Aldag and Gordie Hogg, sent out a detailed letter to rally organizers addressing the issue of gang violence and presenting the investments and plans introduced to tackle this issue.
     
     
    Sahota urges parents and community members to come forward and fight against gang violence. “This is our city and our kids, we have to work hard. We can’t rely on others to protect our kids,” he says in conclusion.
     
     

    WATCH THE FULL RALLY HERE:

     
     
    Wake Up Rally LIVE Broadcast From Surrey City Hall

    Wake Up Rally LIVE Broadcast From Surrey City Hall

    Posted by Channel Punjabi on Wednesday, 13 June 2018
     
     

    JAGO AND JAGAO RALLY: Surrey Parents Seek Answers From The Elected Politicians And The Police At The City Hall

    Posted by Darpan Magazine on Wednesday, 13 June 2018
     
     
    JAGO AND JAGAO RALLY: Not Enough Police Officers In Surrey

    JAGO AND JAGAO RALLY: Concerns Raised About The Police At The Event

    Posted by Darpan Magazine on Wednesday, 13 June 2018
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    #StandingWithOurKids ਇਹ ਇਕੱਠ ਹੁਣ ਛੇ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ ਸਿਆਸਤਦਾਨਾਂ ਤੇ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਦੀ ਉਡੀਕ ਕਰੇਗਾ ਕਿ ਦੋ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਕਤਲ ਸੰਬੰਧੀ ਕੋਈ ਠੋਸ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ...

    Posted by Gurpreet Singh Sahota on Thursday, 14 June 2018
     
     

    #StandingUpForOurKids ਸਰੀ ਦੇ 5 ਸੰਸਦ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਰਣਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਾਏ, ਸੁੱਖ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ, ਕੈੱਨ ਹਾਰਡੀ, ਜੌਹਨ ਐਲਡਗ ਅਤੇ ਗੋਰਡੀ ਹੌਗ ਨੇ 'ਜਾਗੋ...

    Posted by Gurpreet Singh Sahota on Wednesday, 13 June 2018
     
     

     

    Posted by Gurpreet Singh Sahota on Wednesday, 13 June 2018
     
     
     

    Sikh riders of Canada at surrey wake up call rally against gang violence

    A post shared by Sikh Riders Of Canada (@sikhridersofcanada) on

     
     

    PHOTO: Twitter/Ben Miljure @CTVNewsBen

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