Lowertown basketball tournament aims to bring ‘peace in the streets’

EightYouth basketballTeams took to theThe courts of a LowertownPark SaturdayFor more information, please visit: tournamentgehalten in theMemory of two young people Black men shot and killed last summer, just minutes away.

DozensIt was published toWatch the “Peace in the Streets” tournament in Jules Morin Park, which honoured 20-year-old Loris Tyson Ndongozi and 18-year old Creflo Tansia.

NdongoziPlayed pick-up basketballLast night JulyWhen they were both shot, they were with a friend. NdongoziIt was not the target — theAccording to friend to police — but he was theOne who has died in the attack.

Tansia was fatally shot on Murray StreetIt was approximately one month later. 

An arrest was made for a 17-year-old in connection with that homicide.

Organizer Manock Lual said the tournamentThis was not meant to be toRemember the two young BlackMen, but also to promote peace and show that sports can play a role inCombatting youth crime 

“We hear about Joker, and we think Batman is a good guy. But what created the Joker? A lack of resources, a whole lot of trauma, a lack of support. This is what creates our Jokers, right?” said Lual.

“So we want to come together and say, ‘Hey, if you need support, there is a community, hundreds of people that will help you.'”

Lual said basketballYou can also act as an agent “social engineering tool”This provides youth with the community and support they need.

“Once you’re on someone’s team, you’re not thinking about the colour of their skin, their gender … you just think about collectively getting together and winning the game,” said Lual. 

LualHe hopes that it will be added the tournamentThis event will be held annually.

TheTeams were drawn from different neighbourhoods. OttawaAll inclusive Caldwell, Overbrook Sandy Hill.

Samuel DoufCoaching theteam from CaldwellIt was the winner the tournament. In2020: He survived an attack at an Airbnb on Gilmour Street that took the life of his 18-year-old cousin Manyok “Manny” Akol.

Now unable to walk, Douf cheered his teamOn from his wheelchair. He said he volunteered toYou can coach them toSupport the cause Ndongozi’s father who — like him — had lost a loved one to gun violence. 

“Every last one of these guys out of here is basically a son. [His father] lost one, but he’s gaining thousands right now,” Douf said. 

The tournamentIt is important to remember that BlackOther marginalized and racialized youth may also be able to find help. “safe space”Even amid violence and crime, it is possible to remain positive said Shyeem Brown, a member the Caldwell team.

“A lot of us [Black youth] just want to play sports and go to school. We don’t want to be involved in violence,”He said. “So this is good for us too.” 

Mural unveiled

Saturday’s tournamentAlso, saw the unveiling of a mural painted by youth from the LowertownCommunity that Ndongozi TansiaBelonged to.

“The mural is a Black Lives Matter mural,” said LualOf theNext, a new mural was put up on a wall. to the Ottawa Public LibraryBranch on Rideau Street.

“[It] is to humanize people of colour. It’s to show the unity within the community, and to show just how simple Lowertown can be on its best days or even its normal days.” 

Ndongozi’s father, Jooris Ndongozi Nkunzimana, helped reveal theTogether with mural Tansia’s brother and other community members. 

He called it a reminder of both the tremendous support the community has shown toward him and theNot required toKeep up the fight against crime among youth.

ItIt was also a bittersweet way to remember his son, he said, whom he lovedly called “Pancake.”

“He was my champion,” Nkunzimana said. “I always say he’s not dead. [From] somewhere, he sees what we do, and I think he’s happy.”

ForMore stories about theExperiences Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism toSuccess stories from within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC Project Black CanadiansCan be proud of. Youcan readMore stories are here.