Local – Hundreds Come Out For March To Remember Stabbing Victim, Larry Yarbrough Jr.

Posted by Unheard Voices Staff
Posted on August 14, 2011
Posted in New Jersey
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Red Bank, NJ - Hundreds of family, friends, and community members came together to march for unity and peace for stabbing victim Larry “Froggy” Yarbrough.

Yarbrough, along with another victim Manuel Rosas-Oceloti, 18, were stabbed during an altercation at a Bank Street home. Yarbrough died at Jersey Shore University Hospital. Rosas-Oceloti remains hospitalized.

Peace and unity was the clear message. The silent march called “A Time For Healing” began at the Pilgrim Baptist Church on Shrewsbury Avenue and ended in front of the home where the tragic event happened. Family and friends surrounded a tree right in front of the Bank street home where they memorialized to remember the great man they knew and loved.

Several people came forward to express their sorrow and pain over the tragic loss, and how to unify as a community.

His cousin, Romana Johnson, described him as a good person and never known him to bother anyone. She also expressed how safe she felt when he was around. “I don’t know what happened that night, but they took a good person".

Some in the crowd wore a white t-shirt that said “Teacher”, RIP “B-Allah aka Froggy”. “Froggy” was Yarbrough’s childhood nickname, while “Be Allah” was his name within the Five Percent Nation. “Teacher” was another Five Percent Nation reference.

The march was organized by the Greater Red Bank NAACP, Pilgrim Baptist Church, and the Count the Children Movement.

Mayor Pasquale Menna of Red Bank expressed his condolences to the Yarbrough family and unity towards the family and this situation. He let the Yarbrough family know that they are surrounded by a community that is united with them. He said Larry was a child of God where everyone here has come to together in the spirit of love and unity.

“We have to request and focus on love here in Red Bank. We have to put violence aside and talk to one another".

He assured the crowd that his office “will do everything humanly possible that the situation that arose that evening is taking care of and those who are guilty will suffer the consequences.”

He commended the Red Bank police department, who in his word, had done an extraordinary job that night for bringing those in for justice. The crowd applauded his response as the Mayor called "Larry not just our son but he was our brother!"

An arrest was made in connection to the murder. Two city residents Genarro Guerrero-Montes, 19, and Jose Francisco Olivares-Palma, 24, have been charged. As emotions may arise during this tragic time, Willi Poku a representative from the Greater Red Bank NAACP expressed not to take your emotions and think irrationally. If there is any injustice, the NAACP is there to serve. “Violence is not the answer, don’t retaliate”

The march brought a lot of people together starting a healing process. Here at Unheard Voices, we remember Larry “Froggy” Yarbrough for the great man described by his family and friends. It was a pleasure being amongst those who loved and cared about him. We send our sincere condolences to the family.

Stop the violence!

Yarbrough’s viewing will be at Pilgrim Baptist Monday at 9 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m.