DAYVON VICKERS was shot and killed while on a bike in Homewood, March 30.
Family, friends of 15-year-old Dayvon Vickers celebrate his life
Even though there was dancing, laughter, smiles, hugs, pizza and balloons, this was a celebration that never had to happen.
The celebration of life was for 15-year-old Dayvon “Day Day” Vickers, who was shot to death in broad daylight while on his bike at the corner of N. Homewood and Frankstown avenues, March 30.
No suspects have been arrested.
It’s yet another shooting death of an African American in the Pittsburgh region, something Mayor Ed Gainey has called “a pandemic,” referring to the gun violence that’s claimed at least 20 lives within city limits already this year.
Amber Sloan, a community advocate and leader of the “Made It” movement, referred to Vickers as the “son I never had. He was a baby. His voice…he meant everything to the community, clearly. We failed him.”
Vickers could be seen throughout Homewood selling bottles of water and riding his bike, which made it that much more perplexing to those in attendance about his sudden death.
8-YEAR-OLD ZIAREAH JACKSON REMEMBERS VICKERS DURING A PROTEST/CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR VICKERS.(PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
“He always brought joy to the room,” voiced Westinghouse Academy junior Ma’Kiah Parker, 17. “He was never about the angriness and sadness, depression; he was all about positivity and laughter. I know everybody’s sad and y’all love him and miss him, but he wouldn’t want us out here down, he would want us celebrating his name, rooting for him and turning up because at the end of the day, that’s what this is about, celebration. We came here today to spread light on the youth and just how bad it is right here. They can find us guilty for selling drugs out here but they can’t find anybody guilty for the deaths of a 15-year-old young man who’s just trying to make it out the way.”
HUNDREDS CAME OUT TO REMEMBER 15-YEAR-OLD DAYVON VICKERS, KILLED IN HOMEWOOD ON MARCH 30. (PHOTOS BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
Just one week prior to Vickers’ death, Mayor Gainey had walked the streets of Homewood, encouraging residents to let him know what they need to make Homewood shine again. He hosted a community meeting later that evening at Community Empowerment Association, vowing to get Homewood significant resources, while challenging residents to join him in this fight to end the violence on the streets.
Mayor Gainey was in attendance at the celebration of life for Vickers, held, Saturday, April 2, at the corner of N. Homewood and Frankstown. But the mayor did not speak over the microphone. The event was a youth-led protest/rally, and it was primarily Vickers’ classmates whose voices were heard.
DAYVON VICKERS’ FRIENDS SPEAK AT THE APRIL 2 EVENT IN HOMEWOOD.
“Today, we find ourselves here with a problem. The lives of our youths, my peers and countless sons and daughters are being taken from us due to violence,” said Antwon Claybourne, another friend of Vickers. “Every day is a never-ending challenge and fight for our survival. Why shouldn’t we be safe in our own communities? Why should we live in a constant state of fear? Well today, we say no, enough is enough, enough pain, enough suffering, enough murder. Enough with this violence. This will go on no longer. We are taking back our communities. Today we are here to fight for our safety and we rise up in the loving memory of Dayvon Vickers. No matter what, we will prevail.”
JANIYA WHEELER, SANAI CAREY
“Honestly, none of us should be standing here right now,” said Raniaya Williams, 16, lead organizer of the event. “We should all be at home or something. Dayvon should be home right now, with his brother, with his grandma, but no…”
She added: “Y’all are killing our future. He didn’t even get to graduate. Fifteen years old, riding a bike.”
Another friend then said: “He worked hard for that bike.”
TAYVON VICKERS, OLDER BROTHER OF DAYVON.
“He told everybody he was not going to be in the streets, he’s not about to sell weed to get some money,” Williams said. “He sat in the cold and sold water, and he finally got that bike.”
Following the speeches, the crowd gathered in the middle of the intersection at N. Homewood and Frankstown and released blue balloons in the air for Vickers. Hundreds of balloons filled the sky, as some people noted that Vickers was now up in Heaven, with both of his parents by his side.
Lytia S. Brock, who grew up in Homewood but now lives in East Hills, told the New Pittsburgh Courier it was important she and her children came to the event. Her 7-year-old daughter, Amira Sledge, was among some of the kids who wrote messages in colored chalk on the street. Sledge wrote, “Stop Killing.”
“Our youth, they say, are the future, but our youth are the right now,” Brock said. “It’s very important for my children to see protests, and see that we can make a difference if we use our voice.”
AMIRA SLEDGE, 7, WRITES “STOP KILLING” AT THE INTERSECTION OF N. HOMEWOOD AND FRANKSTOWN AVENUES. (PHOTOS BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
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