A man shot dead in the street after a weekend of joyous celebrations. Multiple people hospitalised after a knife brawl just hours later. It has opened up old wounds for the people of Moss Side - but after two days of partying and live music in glorious sun, those living in the once-troubled suburb won't let it dampen their spirits and are undeterred in their battle to ensure it remains a safe community for all.
The hard work of volunteers and community groups to rid Moss Side of its gang and violence reputation over recent decades cannot be understated. In the 90s and 00s Moss Side became a byword for gang and gun crime - but things have changed.
So when a lifelong resident of Rosebery Street describes rarer incidents such as the early morning fatal shooting of a young man today (August 15) 'knocking the wind' out of the community he means it. "I used to sit and eat a bowl of cereal on the front step and watch these kinds of scenes four or five times a week, but it's not like that anymore," he said.
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"When it does happens it knocks the wind out of the community and it's sad to see. It's like we're a boxer getting knocked to the canvas having to recover each year this happens."
He was on the park which connects Rosebery Street and Clarendon Road at the time where hundreds of people were 'packed like sardines' partying after the end of a successful Caribbean Festival celebrating its 50th anniversary. Those joyous scenes are ones which have graced the streets of Moss Side in years gone by, celebrating the suburbs' long African and Caribbean history.
Many others who spoke to the MEN lamented the 'bad apples' who ruined a good weekend and return of the Carnival after two years away and were frustrated to see the return of violence after the event. It brought back memories of the 2018 attempted murder shooting at a street party and the murder of two men in 2020 at a house party.
Many couldn't quite control their emotions and directed their frustrations at community workers who had come to check that residents were okay after the events of the early morning. This included demanding that future after parties for the Carnival are controlled and organised, much like the event in Alexandra Park itself.
Peace activist and local councillor and resident Erinma Bell agreed with these calls, sharing the frustration with residents, as one herself, that violence had once again descended on Moss Side. "For residents to wake up in the morning to this, it shouldn't be happening. People live here with their families, and now they can't go to the park because of this," she said.
And despite recognising that the relationship between Moss Side residents and the police isn't always 'top notch', she urged those who may have witnessed the fatal shooting or those with mobile phone videos to come forward with any evidence for the sake of the community.
"What has happened here is everybody's problem. It's everybody's issue," she said at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
"I know, being a Moss Side resident, that the relationship we have with the police is not always top notch, but there are anonymous ways you can upload footage. It's really important that we, as the residents of Moss Side, come forward and do something about what has happened, so that it doesn't happen again.
"We have to get behind and support the authorities so that they can solve this issue, not only for ourselves but mainly for the family.
"I was here last night at 11pm and I did see the crowds and there will have been people that used their mobile phones and captured some footage. That piece of information could be a vital chink that the officers need to be able to solve this murder. It's not only a crime, it's a murder."
""People come to these parties from all over and forget they people live here, why should they have to wake up to this, there's litter, food and gas canisters, everywhere."
Some 24,000 people attended the carnival on Saturday and a further 15,000 visited Alexandra park on Sunday according to Cllr Bell. She added it was 'good vibes' and a 'positive' atmosphere after the festivals anticipated return before the violence ensued.
"The carnival has been great, Saturday was great - 24,000 went in and came out safely, it's a well managed event. It's all about people's safety and enjoying it. When this (shooting) happens right at the end of the weekend it's so unfortunate," she said.
"The main concern needs to be people's safety. These incidents open up old wounds (for Moss Side). Right up to yesterday it was good vibes and it was all positive. There's great organisations working to keep young people out of crime and off the street, but we can't be everywhere all at once.
"It just shows that we have to keep going and we need to keep supporting our volunteers because this is everyone's issue, we all live here and want it to be safe. We shouldn't just label this a 'shooting' and simply move on.
"We need to remember guns are illegal and shouldn't be on our streets full stop. How did this person get a gun? How does this happen?"
When questioned at the press conference about the policing of the carnival and street parties, which followed on from the events at Alexandra Park, Councillor Bell noted that 'nobody can tell what's going to happen or when it's going to happen' and urged that, as a partnership, the council, police and also those living in the community need to be 'around the decision making table' to combat violence going forward.
She said: "There was enough officers out on the street and in the park. There have been planning committees before the carnival event happened. On Sunday, the police urged them to finish early, which they did. The officers involved have managed the crowds very well.
"The police were visibly out on the streets afterwards, but you can never tell what is going to happen or when it's going to happen. As a partnership, it's not only the local authority solving the issue or the police. As local residents, we have to sit down and be around that decision making table so that we can plan so this kind of thing doesn't happen again.
"People that come to Moss Side forget people live here. This is their neighbourhood. They are raising their children and want them to be able to go out and play, and that's one of the things people need to remember."
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, said: "Our community is saddened and shocked by this tragic loss and our hearts go out to the victim's family and friends. Now, more than ever, it is really important that we all support one another in the aftermath of this devastating incident."
The overwhelming feeling at the scene early on Monday was one of sadness at the 'waste of another young life' to needless violence in an area where many families live. And while the cordon is set to stay for potentially another two days for police investigations to continue, it will be impossible for those living nearby to move on.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Manchester Police on 101 quoting log number 40 of the 15th August 2022. Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously to the independent charity - Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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