Pictured At the Center anti-violence vigil. Photos by Andrew Davis.
On Wed., Oct. 6, an anti-violence candlelight vigil was held in remembrance of several individuals at 3640 N. Halsted, the site of the future Center on Halsted. Among those remembered was Kevin Clewer, 31, who was murdered March 24.
Ron Clewer, Kevin's brother, took a few moments after the event to talk to Windy City Times about his sibling.
Windy City Times: What does this vigil mean to you?
Ron Clewer: Well, it's an opportunity to remember my brother and to keep the hunt [for the assailant] alive.
[The vigil] was an eye-opener. For six months I kept thinking, 'This didn't happen.' But to listen to people in the crowd read names off or to know in their hearts the names of 30 people who have been killed or adversely affected by violence ... it's incredible. We get wrapped up in [things] but this violence is part of our world.
WCT: What do you want people to remember about Kevin?
RC: Who he was. I think that people feel that he met someone and he went home with somebody he didn't know and that just happens sometimes—[but] it shouldn't be the memory of him. Yes, everyone needs to be careful. My brother presumably let his guard down. What he was after was a relationship. He wanted the same thing everyone else wants. He wanted to be happy and have a partner.
We all do things that are sometimes outside the norm. I just want people to remember who he was. Like my mom said, a bad thing happened to a good person. Unfortunately, people tend to remember the act and not the person.
WCT: What was his personality like?
RC: He was very outgoing. He had an infectious laugh and a great sense of humor. He honestly could bring people together. It didn't matter what the event was; everyone was guaranteed to have a good time.
WCT: Have there been any leads in the case?
RC: You know, it's hard to say. I don't want to say anything derogatory about the process because I know the Chicago Police Department is giving this their best. We have conversations and they (police) are optimistic, but nothing is really said. Again it's the process. They can't say, they're trying to build a case. At some point [my family] will be sitting in a courtroom before we find out what really happened. I hope that day comes—and I feel confident that it will come.
If you have any information regarding Kevin's murder, please contact Chicago Police, Area Three Homicide at (312) 744-8261; refer to case number HK-259944. Also, you can go to www.4chicagokev.com to get more data about the case.