DETROIT – Community leaders, advocates, and grieving parents gathered on Detroit’s east side to launch “Protect the Zone,” a summer safety campaign aimed at preventing violence in neighborhoods, schools, and parks.
“We’ve been in these spaces far too many times,” said Quincy Smith, executive director of Team Pursuit. “We are sick of this deadly disease. This should not have happened.”
After 4-year-old Samir Grubbs was fatally shot at a park in Detroit while playing on a slide, and 18-year-old Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey was also shot and killed at the park, the community is demanding change.
“My baby didn’t even get the chance to go down the slide,” said Samir’s mother, Jasmine Grubbs. “Now I wake up every day with one of his toys in my bed.”
The groups, including Force Detroit, Detroit 300, New Era Detroit, and many others, condemned those who fire guns near children and criticized state lawmakers for failing to fund community intervention work.
Others stressed that killing members of your own community is not respectable and called on people to speak out when violence occurs.
The groups began canvassing and going door-to-door, offering summer programs for teens to stay engaged in positive activities throughout the summer months and beyond.
Pastor Moe spoke solemnly, saying, “We honor the life of this baby. We honored the lives of our children. Kids are going to school in fear.”
The message from the community is clear: stop waiting until tragedy strikes to take action.
Smith expressed frustration, saying, “We are tired, and we are sick of this deadly disease. This should not have happened.”
Jasmine recalled a heartbreaking moment: “You said he was just going up the ladder? Didn’t even make it to slide down. And I could just see the person shooting. That one minute, just one minute.”
4-year-old Samir was killed, along with 18-year-old Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, who was shot and killed while trying to protect another child.
The father of the 18-year-old said, “I don’t have no words for it. You just miss him. Yeah.”
Another teen was injured, and two other teens were shot over the weekend, one of them dying.
Now, community groups, police, school officials, and families are coming together to say Detroit’s children shouldn’t have to live in fear.
A community member said, “Who would’ve thought that somebody was senseless enough to shoot by a placescape?”
Volunteers distributed flyers for the summer campaign Protect the Zone, encouraging parents, teachers, and leaders to get involved.
One volunteer said, “Hey, we wanna talk to you about Protect the Zone.”
The campaign urges not only parents and teachers but also local and state leaders to find solutions to stop the violence.
Another volunteer added, “Let’s take advantage of what’s out there.”
Residents are being informed about free programs available to help keep kids safe.
One flyer recipient said, “You get a flyer?”
Another responded, “We got free programs for people.”
Learn more: Protect the Zone