Thug Life Army

The mother of the 14 year old victim of the Tony Yayo unimaginable physical and verbal assault, will join CZAR Entertainment, Rev. Al Sharpton, The Hip Hop Summit Action Network’s Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Cynthia Reed, Stiles Ramirez, son of the bodyguard who was murdered at a Busta Rhymes hip hop video shoot and his mother, Stephanie Hires, along with various community leaders including parents, students and religious leaders will gather for a public grievance and call for action to advocate change against the hip hop click G-Unit, hip hop artist Tony Yayo and the industry executives looking to profit from violence and such deplorable acts against youth in hip hop.

The Public Grievance and Peaceful Rally for Change will be held in Manhattan on Monday, April 2^nd.

“I’m disgusted and emotional. Upon hearing that an innocent child was assaulted for wearing a shirt, following the death of Israel Ramirez who was innocently killed for doing his job, I am coming forward now to ask -- When will this nonsense stop?,” says Stephanie Hires. “I am speechless and angered that the severity of the situation and Israel’s death wasn’t recognized the way it should have been and I refuse to sit back. As a mother myself, who has to care for a young boy who has lost his father to a senseless crime, I feel for Cynthia Reed and her family. Her concerns should be of great concern to everyone. This isn’t just about her son; it’s about what the overall message of this assault represents for our children and families. It is time that the corporations and music labels that support these artists who commit senseless crimes against one another and our youth are held responsible for their actions with measurable consequences.”

“We will be spreading a message to those in the industry that would so pollute our community with the kind of behavior that would make our young people feel that there’s some source of manhood and macho respect in acting in a savage way,” says Al Sharpton. “If we’ve gone now to where we permit the beat down of people’s children, then where’s the line going to be drawn? What we’re trying to do is send a message that there must be standards, there must be a line, there must be an example. But more importantly, it’s to let the kids know that this is not something to be applauded or looked up to. The rally is necessary to make a bigger point because it represents a real message to others of what we will no longer tolerate in our community.”

“We are involved to try to help mediate this problem.  In truth, every child in our community is precious. The theme of the Hip-Hop Summit is taking back responsibility. With artistic freedom comes responsibility. Therefore anytime a child in our community is harmed it is of great concern to us,” says Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President of The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. We are hoping and praying that this matter can be resolved peacefully and resolutely. At the end of the day the interest of our children will be better served.”

A private press conference will be held for media only on Monday at 11:00am in Manhattan, immediately followed by a peaceful public rally.