A SECOND ‘Coventry Says No’ anti-knife crime rally is being planned in the run up to Christmas, according to Daniel Kennell’s family.
It follows the protest on Saturday October 12 in Broadgate, Coventry, one of more than 40 that took place on that day across the country organised by families affected by knife violence.
The city centre event, which included live music and youth performances, attracted support from between 100 and 200 people including Specials legend Neville Staple and his wife Christine Sugary Staple.
He has spoken of the “heartbreaking loss” of his grandson, Fidel Glasgow, who was stabbed to death aged 21 outside Coventry nightclub Club M in Croft Road on September 1 last year. Six men, all aged 20 to 22, have been arrested and bailed on suspicion of murder and violent disorder, following dawn raids at the beginning of this month.
The devastated family of 27-year-old Daniel Kennell, who died as a result of a tragic knife attack on July 8 last year, organised the peaceful demonstration last-minute in response to the national rallies. The perpetrator, Ryan Preston, a former school friend, was jailed for life in January.
Daniel’s older sister Michelle, aged 33, from Bulkington, speaking on behalf of The Daniel Kennell Foundation, said: “Thank you to everyone for coming together. There were people from lots of different walks of life, all there for the same purpose. Coventry is a good place to live and we need to focus on that, so people do not feel the need to carry a knife.
“One of the performers was a talented female rap artist called Feisty from Coventry, who sang Put it Down with Neville and Sugary Staple – a song they had performed at the Godiva Festival. It was a massively emotional event and amazing to see the youth perform.
“The next event has been discussed and planned for the Christmas period.”
Immediately after the rally the Kennell family wrote on the Foundation’s Facebook page: “Thank you to everyone who attended Coventry Says No. We are so proud with the way it turned out and we can’t thank you all enough for coming along and supporting us in the fight to tackle knife crime in Coventry. If anyone has any further inputs or ideas, or would like to be part of the foundation we welcome everybody.”
A date is yet to be set for the second event.
See here for more information about the foundation: thedanielkennellfoundation
