Community marches to remember stabbing victim Larry Yarbrough Jr.

Red Bank, NJ – Family, friends, and community members came together to march for unity and peace for stabbing victim Larry Yarbrough Jr.

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

March For Larry Yarbrough Jr

Larry Yarbrough Jr

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.

Words of sorrow

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

Yarbrough Jr’s cousin, Romana Johnson, described him as a good person who was never known 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”, said Johnson.

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.

The march for Larry Yarbrough Jr 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.

Menna comforted the Yarbrough family, letting them know that they are surrounded by a community that is united with them.

He said Larry was a child of God, whose love has brought them 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,” Menna said.

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 he says “had done an extraordinary job that night for bringing those in for justice”.

The crowd applauded his response as the mayor said “Larry is not just our son but he was our brother!”

Arrest

An arrest was made in connection to the murder of Larry Yarbrough Jr.

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 Yarbrough Jr for the great man as described by his family and friends. It was a pleasure being among those who deeply loved and cared about him. We send our sincere condolences to the family.

Stop the violence!

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