Urban Navigation basketball tourney says it loud: Stop the gun violence

Family members and friends of players came out to cheer on the teams on Saturday during Balling Against Gun Violence at the Darby Recreation Center. (COURTESY OF ALIM HOWELL) 

Urban Navigation Youth 4 Peace Initiative hosted its fourth annual Balling Against Gun Violence basketball game on Saturday at the Darby Recreation Center, 1022 Ridge Ave.

There was free food, prizes, trophies, and anti-gun violence T-shirts were given out.

According to a press release from Alim Howell, activist and advocate, who was in attendance:

Hameen Diggins, co-founder of Urban Navigation along with Richard Cooper, and Urban Navigation member, organized the event.

“This event is important for the community. No drama, nothing like that. Just plain having fun and spreading positivity between one another. Urban Navigation is becoming more and more known throughout Delaware County and we are very proud of that. I like to look out for our young ones and make sure they know that we have their backs no matter what circumstances they might have,” Diggins said.

The guest speaker was Siddiq Kamara, president of the Fanta Bility Foundation.

“I am here to support all our youth,” Kamara added. “Every youth has their own challenges throughout life but with community service events like this we can all make it better and end this gun violence battle throughout the state.”

Gun violence in some parts of Delaware County and nearby is rampant among teenagers to adults.

“I understand that our youth need attention and motivation,” said Urban Navigation co-founder Don Jackson. “But they have to know that shooting at one another is not the correct option. We are all human beings and we get frustrated but taking someone’s life away is never the way. It just leads to more jail time and a hectic situation they can put themselves in.”

Urban Navigation is an inner city and suburban youth culture organization.

The headquarters at 1516 N. Fifth St., Philadelphia, in the Olde Kensington section. The group plans to have anti-gun violence basketball games yearly for all youth to attend.

For more information, community residents and parents of youth can join the Facebook public group page Urban Navigation/Youth 4 Peace Initiative.