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The Day: A Rally In Lafayette Gardens, a Documentary Screening and Free Drinks at the Vet

Lafayette Gardens residents protested Laquan Nelson's death Thursday evening. (Photo by Emily Field)
Lafayette Gardens residents mourned the shooting death of Laquan Nelson, nicknamed Popcorn, in an anti-violence rally Thursday evening. (Photo by Emily Field)

Good morning, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Yesterday evening, residents of the Lafayette Gardens Houses held a rally protesting gun violence, spurred by last week’s shooting death of 16-year-old Laquan Nelson.

Residents spoke out against an alleged slow response by emergency services, although FDNY records show three ambulances responded to the call within six minutes, according to The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Residents also protested closing the Lafayette Gardens community center, which is one of the 57 public housing centers at risk of closing next month because of insufficient city funding.

Here is some more local news for the end of the week:

  • The Brown Memorial Baptist Church at 484 Washington Avenue will hold a free screening tonight at 6 p.m. of “Central Park Five,” a documentary about the rape of a 28-year-old woman in Central Park and the subsequent false conviction of five black and Latino teenagers. One of the teenagers, Yusef Salaam, will also be a guest speaker.
  • The Brooklyn Grange will open its doors for a two year anniversary celebration on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with drinks and snack provided by fellow Myrtle Avenue vendors Red Lantern Bicycles, Le Petit Bakery and Brooklyn Sweet Spot.
  • A sick pet is stressful and a Clinton Hill veterinary clinic is offering drinks to soothe the frayed nerves of anxious pet owners, reported DNAinfo. Although the clinic does not have a liquor license, Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Hospital and Dental Clinic offers complimentary home-brewed beer and wine from a local vendor to pet owners.