‘We stand together, united in our determination to reclaim our community’ – Reflection on Coalisland vigil against drugs

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COMMENT Today we gathered together as a community united against the misuse of drugs and other substances.

We unite together to support those who are caught up in the cycle of addiction – whatever that addiction is.

We are not here to point a finger but to reach out our hands in a gesture of help and support to lift up those who are being crushed under the weight of addiction.  This includes our young people, our parents, our neighbours – each other.

“We are not here to point a finger but to reach out our hands in a gesture of help and support”

We stand together, united in our determination to reclaim our community; we stand together to loudly proclaim to our young people that we care for them, we love them and we want to protect them.

We stand together so that we can all feel safe from fear – whatever is the source of that fear. We all need help and we need to help each other.

There is a scourge in our midst and we need to face it together. In our common unity we have community. In our unity we tackle the social issues in front of us.

“There is a scourge in our midst and we need to face it together. In our common unity we have community”

We stand for justice – a justice based not on voices that try to pull us down but on the truth that raises our dignity.

We call on all adults to take responsibility.  Shopkeepers and bar owners;  bookmakers and newsagents; educators and sports people; parents and neighbours; brothers and sisters.

Let our young people have an addiction free future.  Let them know that we believe in them.  Let them know that they are our future. Let our only fear be that which asks: “Are we doing enough for them?”