Riviera Beach, Fla. – The youngest victim was just 3 years old. Martavious was shot dead in a drive-by in 2016. No arrest has been made.

On Sunday he was memorialized, along with ten other victims of Black-on-Black crime. A Riviera Beach convenience store, Tiger Store, near the busy corner of President Barack Obama Highway and Blue Heron Boulevard, now has a parking lot filled with red parking stops emblazoned with the names of the 11 killed, including tiny Martavious. Each red parking stop will each bear the name of a crime victim, the color signifying the blood shed in their tragic deaths.

The idea was the brainchild of Bishop Thomas Masters, former mayor of predominantly Black Riviera Beach, founder and pastor of the city’s New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, and an activist for the downtrodden for more than three decades.

His latest undertaking is similar to the Black Lives Matter corridor at his church on 9th Street, where the red parking stops bear the names of highprofile individuals such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and others.

FOCUS OVERDUE

The memorials at New Macedonia signify those killed by law enforcement or have racial overtones. Those at Tiger Store signify those killed by other Blacks. The sentiment among victims’ families at Sunday’s tribute was that the focus on Black-on-Black crime overdue.

“Black on Black crime is just as bad or worse,” said Monica Keels, toddler Martavious’ grandmother. Trend Turner, the baby’s aunt, said it’s horrible that Black-on-Black crime is flourishing. “It’s getting worse every way.”

Masters said it would have been remiss not to acknowledge the families. “We wanted to give a new twist and not just focus on racial situations,” he said. “Charity begins at home. Love begins at home. You never get over these things so we embrace these families.

“Because I’ve preached so many funerals, I felt it was time to come together and proclaim that Black Lives Matter on Tamarind Avenue in West Palm Beach and on Avenue S in Riviera Beach.” Both thoroughfares traverse the heart of the inner city and have a reputation of high incidence of crime.

MAKAYLA TRIBUTE

Makayla Dennard, a 15-year-old teenager, was also killed in a drive-by shooting. Her parents, Akeysheia Reed and Byron Dennard, were on hand Sunday to unveil her parking stoop. Makayla’s alleged perpetrators go on trial April 4 of this year. Reed and Dennard say it’s been a long journey and they’re that praying justice will be served. But both say they are that their daughter chose to be an organ donor who has saved five lives, including a 91-year-old man who received her heart.

Glenda and Tommy Lee Neal were elated to pull back the white tape and unveil the name of their son, Tommy, Jr., who was killed in Riviera Beach in 2019. A large group of family and friends showed up Sunday to honor Tommy. No one has been arrested in his murder. “We will never stop!” Shouted his mother, waving a sign. “Justice for Tommy!” 

COMING EVENT

Masters said there are so many Black-on-Black crime victims in Palm Beach County that he will unveil the names of 17 more victims this Sunday, March 20 at 4 p.m. at Riviera Plaza, 2617 President Barack Obama Highway in Riviera Beach. The Riviera Beach police chief and elected officials have been invited, as well as other special guests and the public. The city’s celebrated Sounds of Success Community Marching Band, recently invited to perform in London for Queen Elizabeth’s Sovereign Birthday celebration next year, also has also been invited. Masters said the event will be just as impactful and important.

“We owe it to these families to pay homage to their loved ones. These individuals should not go unnoticed.”