City poised to mobilize for peace
on March 5, 2010
Saturday is set to be part two of a faith-based offensive against local violence.
“We are going to assemble on 210 street corners and pray with one voice,” said Rev. Andre Shumake, one of the leaders of a two-plus week series of rallies, marches and prayers prompted by a Feb. 14 shooting in a local church.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, leaders from about 80 area churches plan to pray with thousands of residents at 210 separate street corners throughout the city. The “Lord spare the city” prayer will last for seven minutes, Schumake said.
At noon, the pastors – who have received logistical helps from local government emergency funds – will lead a peace march of five-blocks from the Civic Center to 21st Street and Roosevelt Avenue.
Once there, the plan is to link more than 3,000 hands in a human chain that extends to New Gethsemane Church of God in Christ, which was the scene of the Feb. 14 shooting that left two injured.
At 1:30 p.m., the grand finale will be a mass rally and symposium at the Richmond Civic Auditorium.
Civic leaders and community members have hailed the outpouring as a sign of the community’s renewed vigilance to reduce crime, particularly after homicide number spiked dramatically last year.
For more information, including times and each of the 210 prayer locations, click on www.operationrichmond.org
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This was a great event. Very well organized and very meaningful. I hope Operation Richmond continues, and wish that the entire city would come out and join hands against violence.