Dear Editor:
Today is a sad day in the City of Jersey City. Unfortunately, we lost one of our own. Officer Melvin Santiago was killed in the line of duty while protecting and serving the community. He was a 23 year old rookie who just got on the force and wanted to simply make a difference. It is very unfortunate this random act of violence took place but we must not give up on our city. I have spoken to a few friends today and seen numerous posts on various media outlets of residents saying “It is time to move out” and non-residents saying “Never go to Jersey City”.
While this tragedy did take place, we must keep the faith and pray for our city. The situation can be looked at from all different fronts starting with our current gun laws. Some may support them and some may not; but we all have to meet in the middle. I would like to thank the Jersey City Police Department and the Hudson County Sheriff Department for continuing to serve our communities daily. While random acts of violence continue to plague our streets daily, these men and women are doing their best to ensure our safety.
Demetrius M. Terry
A Young Strong Democratic Voice for Jersey City
LGBT/Minority Advocate