The City of Grand Rapids has made a decision not to rename a street in honor of Amillier Penn, a teenager who tragically lost his life to gun violence on Umatilla Street in June of 2024, despite concerted efforts by his father, Corey Penn, to memorialize him through this gesture. This determination was solidified during a City Commission meeting last Tuesday where, as per FOX 17, no motion was brought forward to vote on the renaming; this lack of action effectively tabled the proposal without initiating a formal rejection.
Corey Penn had proposed the street designation “Amillier Penn Way,” a measure intended not to replace but to accompany the existing street name. The debate around this memorial sparked a broader discourse on gun violence and remembrance but also met with resistance from local residents during a public hearing last month, with concerns expressed that it could set a precedent or, as one resident articulated, open a 'can of worms' they would be unable to close. Another argued against what they perceived as a potential validation of violence through memorialization. These sentiments were quoted by FOX 17.
Though the street renaming did not proceed, the discussion did catalyze other initiatives aimed at acknowledging the impact of gun violence on the community. WOODTV reported that city officials including Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand proposed alternative memorials and reflections, such as declaring June as Gun Violence Awareness Month and potentially creating a public memorial for victims of gun violence. During the meeting Mayor LaGrand asserted, "We have memorial plaques all over the country for people who die in wars. I would welcome a conversation about a public memorial like that for people who die of gun violence."
Despite the setback regarding the street renaming, Corey Penn pledged to continue seeking ways to honor his son and keep his memory alive. Penn stated in an interview with WOODTV, “I’ll do anything in the world for my kids," and "I plan to appeal it and make more noise about my son’s name." These words underline a father's unwavering commitment to celebrate the legacy of his child and confront the wider societal issue at hand. The idea of establishing accessible youth engagement programs and enriching activities was championed by Third Ward Commissioner Kelsey Perdue. As WZZM 13 recorded, she highlighted the necessity for an environment that invests in and protects young people from the allure and danger of guns, stating, "There should be an abundance of available programs and enrichment opportunities, so every single young person in the city participates one has access to one. And right now, that's not our reality, and I think our youth are suffering because of it."
As the trial of Cartiyae Pascal, accused of murdering Amillier Penn, approaches, the community and its leaders face the challenge of honoring those lost while building a city plan to reduce and prevent gun violence that affects families and neighborhoods.
