Englewood Slayings Prompt Calls to Stop Domestic Violence

Community leaders joined the family of an Englewood mother and daughter allegedly murdered by the woman's boyfriend to call for an end to domestic violence Tuesday, northjersey.com reported.

“This tragedy has happened to wake us up,” Rev. Lester W. Taylor Jr., pastor of Community Baptist Church, told hundreds of mourners at a funeral for Tam Marie “Tammy” Pitts-Gaddy and 5-year-old Natasia "Tay Tay" Gaddy in Englewood. 

Taylor said prayer would not stop domestic violence widespread in the African American community, according to the report. 

“We’re not strong men because we can raise our fists,” Taylor said in the report. He called domestic violence "evil" and urged women not to accept an abusive relationship. 

The pastor announced a new anti-domestic violence initiative called the T&T Initiative, named for Tammy and Tay Tay, the report said. The program is designed to provide shelter for domestic violence victims. 

Prosecutors , stabbed Pitts-Gaddy to death Jan. 28 during an argument at her West Palisade Avenue home before smothering her young daughter.

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