The 2nd annual the Silence the Violence Walk is set to take place in Flint this Saturday, May 24, over Memorial Day weekend, with the purpose of helping to put an end to senseless violence within the community. The walk starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village, and there is a press conference at 12:30 p.m. in the conference room of the same location.
Event organizers are asking the community to wear orange or a memorial shirt of their loved ones for this event. Any organization is welcome to wear their shirts.
Minister Cepeda Chatman, senior minister of True Believers United, pointed out the local walk falls under the umbrella of the Detroit Chapter, Church of the Messiah, where the Pastor is Barry Randolph. Church of the Messiah has been doing the Silence the Violence Walk for 18 years.
“They do have the mind to take the community back, and they are doing just that,” Chatman said. “They went out into the streets. They’ve reached hundreds and hundreds of people, even thousands of them! They’ve gotten drug dealers to throw their bags in. They’ve got them to throw their guns down, the users to put their needles down, prostitutes to wear longer dresses. Now some of them have their own seasonings in grocery stores. They’ve built over 205 affordable housing units from the ground up. They did it-from their own people they got from the streets. Now they’re doing a $20 million project right now. So, they’re doing just amazing! They’ve got their own energy. They’re taking people off the street. They reached into them, made them drop all their nonsense, and gave them a mirror. They made them look into it, and they said: ‘That’s not who you are; this is who you are. Look in there. Look in there good and find that creativity.’ That’s always what they do.”
The Flint walk will start at Sylvester Broome building and end at Dewey Park, behind Sylvester Broome parking lot area on Saginaw St. There we will be speakers and refreshments for the community. Speakers will discuss topics about the purpose of the event and moving towards accomplishing those goals.
Actor Hill Harper, NFL Player Roy Smith, City of Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley and other speakers from around the state will speak to community members. Local CVI Groups and pastors will also speak briefly.
All are welcome to attend to help spread a positive message against all violent acts.
To become a volunteer, make donations or be a sponsor please call (810) -493-3199, or (313)-346-6148.
