Marching for Street Safety in Brooklyn

Families joined street safety advocates last night to demand safer streets and stricter penalties for motorists involved in street crashes after a 9-year-old Brooklyn boy was fatally struck down earlier this month. The driver's vehicle set off a chain reaction that injured several other victims, including the boy's 5-year-old brother and 47-year-old mother.
While the driver was charged by police with criminally negligent homicide, so many others have gone free on lesser, or no charges. The outrage, pain and frustration over such accidents has been building for years. In this case, moms, dads and small children came out with advocates from street safety groups to insist that New York cops investigate all of these crashes more aggressively.

Here are the facts from police in this latest case: Lucian Merryweather was crushed by an out-of-control 2000 Ford Expedition that jumped the curb at Dekalb and Clermont Aves on the afternoon of Nov. 2. Anthony Byrd, 59, of Clermont Ave. was charged by police.

New Yorkers joined street safety groups, including  "Make Brooklyn Safer", in spreading the word about the march using social media. It was a peaceful and compelling procession that included dozens who marched to a local community board hearing to deliver their message. A follow up event for anyone concerned is scheduled tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Elohim, 8th Ave. and Garfield Pl. The focus yesterday was on preventing more child victims. Right of Way, a street safety advocacy group, also has brought attention to young children in its well-known stencil campaign.