A cry for Jamaicans to take a stand against crime and violence came from inside an inner-city community yesterday at the thanksgiving service for the life of Meadowbrook High School student Mickolle Moulton.

Educator Marcus Blackstock urged the authorities to use education as the fuel to change the situation within the often troubled community of Trench Town where Mickolle was shot dead early last month.

As relatives and friends filled Meadowbrook United Church in Kingston, Blackstock, who operates the Must Pass Evening Class, of which Mickolle was a student, made his appeal to the congregation.

“I am glad that we have some dignitaries in this house and I want to make an appeal; it might sound draconian but Mr [Mark] Golding, I respect you, you’re an honourable man, you’re going to be the next MP in Trench Town. I was raised in that community but I will tell you, if you really want to make an impact in that community, education has to be the key,” Blackstock said to thunderous applause.

“I say to you… and it might sound draconian, but we cannot continue to allow people to have unwanted children — children they can’t take care of. These are the very same people who have become criminals, who become scammers. We cannot allow it. There should be a system, there should be a law in place that restricts the number of children that you’re allowed to have if you don’t have financial backing,” he continued.

While pointing out that he is aware of the exigency of the community, Blackstock said there ought to be better options provided for the youth.

“When you grow in a system like that, that doesn’t have any responsibility, what it does is marginalise your dreams. You no longer dream to become a lawyer or a doctor, you believe that life stops at your feet,” he said.

“I know in Trench Town that if you have $100 as a man, you can get sex, and it came on the TV. If you’re able to buy a Marlon food for $150, you get a woman, you need to just go so and you get a girl. It’s the system, the system is creating these kinds of people,” the educator noted.

“I have nothing against anybody from Trench Town. I love Trench Town, but the truth is, we have to do something about these areas, otherwise we will have more Mickolles right here,” Blackstock said, pointing to the casket bearing the body of the 17-year-old who was described as a “true gem”.

“Society, we need to start taking care of our children. No longer should we just look at it as the man from down a Rose Town daughter so we nuh business. We cannot categorise the daughter from Norbrook against the daughter from Rose Town, they are our children, so we should not spare any resources in getting their killers,” he said.

“3D Pottinger was killed and by the next day we found his killer. Mickolle was killed a month and a day or two days now and up to this very moment we cannot find the persons who did this,” he stated.

His reference was to the death of fashion designer Dexter Pottinger whose decomposing body was found in his house two Thursdays ago.

Pottinger’s accused murderer, Romario Brown, was held the following day. He was charged last week.

“She was not at a dance enuh people,” Blackstock said in reference to Mickolle’s murder. “She was in her bed and this is what we got. People, we need to take a stand, it is full time now.”

Added the educator: “This is a promising young lady, and I am not telling you that because she is now in her coffin. If I am to rate Mickolle in terms of the students I have taught over the years, she is in the top three. When I see Mickolle I see my daughter, granddaughters and how I am going to raise them the same way. Mickolle is an example for all.”

Moulton was killed on August 6 at her home in Arnett Gardens, St Andrew by someone who officiating minister Reverend Norman Francis believes “can only be described as a low life, a dog-hearted murderer and scum of the earth”.

It was reported that at about 4:25 am, while the 17-year-old slept, she was shot through her bedroom window along with her 12-year-old sister.

Moulton succumbed to her injures after she was rushed to hospital, while her sister was admitted and eventually released.

The brutal killing at the time triggered condemnation from government officials, the police, and citizens, who were all outraged by the death of the ambitious teen.

“How can we describe such a vicious act, the adjectives are aplenty, the words merciless, horrific, heinous, cold-blooded, callous and reprehensible are among some of those that come readily to mind, and I am sure that some of you here have a few choice words you would like to utter as well,” Francis stated. “But none of them, let me assure you, none of the words we coin will be capable of capturing the unspeakable brutality that was meted out under the cover of darkness.”

“What did this bright, upcoming, gifted teenager in the prime of her youth and destined for greatness ever do to deserve such an end?” he asked. “This innocent young person was denied the opportunity to better herself, to better her family and to make a meaningful contribution to national life.”

Mickolle, a role model to many, was remembered as one who always strived to achieve greatness.

In a tribute read by her cousin Accion Smith, “Snow White”, as Mickolle was affectionately called, was remembered as a “rare gem mined within the hardcore of the inner-city of Trench Town” with a determination to succeed.

“She knew what hardship was and in fact was always prepared to attend school whether or not she had lunch money. Like any other human being, she often times wished that things were better financially for her family. However, she was not daunted by her circumstances, but instead was determined to stay the course with the intention of one day making herself, family and, by extension her community, proud,” he said.

“Many may characterise her as a quiet individual who didn’t speak much, however I would analyse her as a gentle giant who spoke when it mattered the most. She had substance, dignity and takes extreme pride in what she does,” Smith noted.

The teen was gunned down while fulfilling a summer internship which she received through the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). Her supervisor at ODPEM spoke of her encounter with Mickolle and saluted her grace.

“As Mr Blackstock said, nobody could say that she was coming from an inner-city community. Her posture, mannerism were just tremendous,” she stated as the congregation nodded in agreement.

Sharing similar sentiments, Dawnette Moulton eulogised her younger sibling as someone who was often mistaken for somebody from the upper class.

“Many persons who came across Mickolle and who did not know her would not know that she was from Trench Town. They thought she lived in the cool hills of St Andrew because of her mannerism as well as the fact that she spoke the Queen’s English very fluently,” she said, adding that Mickolle’s life was short but impactful.

“No task was too difficult for her to accomplish, she was a very hard worker at the Meadowbrook High School. Her teacher loved and respected her for her exemplary behaviour. All of her colleagues at school would tell you… that she was one of the most helpful persons. Her friends at the Must Pass evening class revered her. She was an example to follow,” Dawnette noted.

Mickolle was interred at Meadowrest Memorial Gardens. Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Education Minister Ruel Reid, though absent, sent their condolences to the bereaved family.