At rally, V.I. men pledge to be good fathers
Published: August 30, 2010
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Marchers take part in the V.I. Fathers March and Motivational Rally on Saturday afternoon on St. Thomas.
About 150 fathers, joined by dozens of mothers, daughters, sisters and sons, walked down Cassi Hill to Tutu Mall in a show of solidarity and to send a message to the community: Fathers are the backbone of the family, and strong families are the backbone of the community.
The occasion was the second V.I. Fathers March, an event sponsored by Mothers Against Guns, Stop the Bleeding and the Jason Carroll Memorial Fund that has a double purpose, motivating men to be good fathers and making a statement against violence and crime. It was also a drive to recruit fathers to make a pledge to accompany their children to school.
In all, more than 250 people marched across the Tutu Mall parking lot and into the mall to gather in the rotunda. The group’s ranks swelled, thanks to the attention-getting and unavoidable rhythms being pounded out by about a dozen members of AY Drumcorps Ground Zero, made up of youths from five local churches.
The rally began with the crowd singing the worship song “Majesty,” before Pastor Othniel Vanterpool and his son, Neil Vanterpool, began introducing various community leaders who served as speakers, including Pastor Lennox Zamore, Dr. Anthony Francis, UVI president David Hall, Pastor Dr. Vincent David, St. Thomas Police Chief Rodney Querrard, boxing champion Julian Jackson, Schools Superintendent Jeanette Smith-Barry and Gov. John deJongh Jr.
Their words were different and their styles varied, but the message they drove home was singular and specific: The fathers in the community need to be men of faith, honesty and strength to be the role models future generations need in order to become productive and decent members of society.
“There is something very powerful when men become fathers, not only for their children, but for everyone around them who needs what they have to offer,” Hall told them.
“We’re hearing about a lot of young brothers dying in the streets,” Jackson told them. “A lot of us are fathers; we need to take our places in our homes.”
“Parents need to realize that if their children are not getting proper guidance at home, they’re going to get it on the streets,” Querrard told them.
When the speakers were finished, Vanterpool asked the fathers in the audience to stand, raise their right hands and recite the pledge saying they would take an active role in raising their children.
As the crowd dispersed, V.I. Superior Court Judge James Carroll declared the event a success.
He said he hoped the walk and rally would plant a seed that grew out into the community.
“Strong families teach strong values,” he said.
As the crowd headed back out into the community, 60 men had signed the pledge to be good fat
