Trenton residents show resilience after arts festival shooting

TRENTON, N.J. – A few weeks after the arts festival shooting in Trenton, hundreds of residents continue to come out for events in the City, saying that they will not let that incident stop them from enjoying themselves.

The community has been enjoying similar outdoors and indoor events such as the weekly Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series every Thursday that began June 28 to Aug. 30 at 5 to 8 p.m. in Mill Hill Park.

This 2018 Levitt AMP concert series started a few days after the Arts Festival tragedy in Trenton. It was one of the first major events in the City that would attract a sizeable crowd following that problem.

Since then, “I think every concert we have had, a little more people came out,” said Tom Gilmore executive director of Trenton Downtown Association (TDA).

Gilmore explained that they have increased security measures at the concert events even last year — prior to the recent Arts Festival incident.

“We reviewed our security plan that we had for last year, and last year we even upped it because there were some situations where people where driving cars into public events,” he said.

Nevertheless, the recent tragic event at the Arts Festival also had an impact on security improvements at the music concerts, Gilmore said.

He said that the TDA deliberately makes sure the concerts are early evening events, so people can feel safe.

“I think everybody here feels relaxed,” said Sgt. B. Stokes. “The police presence definitely helps. That other event is not gonna stop the good things from happening in Trenton.”

Another resident said he was being brutally honest when he commented that he believes the Arts Festival issue was “staged.”

“I think it was done on purpose,” said Ron Horton. “There’s never been an issue. It’s a pleasant event. Why would something like that happen on that particular night, at that particular place? It makes no sense.”

However, Horton also said he feels safe at the Levitt AMP music concerts even after that tragedy.
Similarly, there is music, vendors, and art outdoors and inside at First Fridays block parties at Front and Warren streets, and attendees at these events have also been saying they do not want to live in fear.

“I don’t have fear of anything,” said Tim Johnson. “This is a much more mature crowd. I think people need to stop letting fear kinda parlay and take away from them enjoying themselves.”

Folks have been saying that it is important that we do not let the violence win, and that we should still come out to support positive events.

Jeffrey Augustin, who was vending at First Fridays, said business is good, and that “Trenton does not let anything stop us. We still keep on going.”

Among other outdoor events in Trenton this summer, is also Capital City Farmers Market during the days on Thursdays from 11a.m. to 2p.m. until October. This outdoor event also features live music from noon until 2p.m. through August.