Violence in Motown, Michigan and Linking Arms Saturday

Deadly day rattles Detroit got me urging to push back the violence with charity and peace that has yet to be tried on a global stage. Dismissing this as "pie in the sky" thinking will only spike the spate of shootings that left seven dead and nine injured over the weekend in Motown.

Many clergy will meet Saturday in Leland Baptist Church next to my own stomping grounds on Fenkell, east of Telegraph in Brightmoor, where I was a pastor in 1981. Poverty and social unrest rang loud and clear throughout that neighborhood, let alone the racial tension among those facing off for turf, or more. Our soup kitchen at St. Christine began while fireman, Ray Kunik served as deacon with Sister Maria Kurrie and me. Christian services were never enough in this blighted area fractured by poverty, broken relationships and families in need of mending, and, deeper prayer. God's there somewhere, I believe and preached. God is, after all, God is everywhere in an omnipresence and omnipotent Power.

A walk, link of arms and a declaration for pro-peaceful living signed and pledged by parents, families and households, among business owners and community leaders will begin about 11:30 am after a prayer breakfast hosted by the American Clergy Leadership Conference and Revs. David Kasbow and Earnest Hatcher, co-chairmen.

Archbishop George Stallings of Washington, D.C., voiced in our telephone conference Wednesday night "that violence anywhere in anyone is violence against the dignity and esteem of everyone, everywhere." Rev. Dr. Cecil Poe is host pastor of Leland Baptist Church where we convene, link arms, pray, and walk to pledge and to push back violence. As common as blowing one's nose, we need to step up to the plate with parents and businesses in Brightmoor to say, NEVER AGAIN to violence. We need to help parents teach right from wrong, the consequences of evil, and respect for all of life in and outside the womb.

I hope parents, families and business leaders, among others, will link arms, walk on Fenkell, and pledge to be nonviolent.

What else can we do?

This epidemic of horror repeats itself enough each day in Detroit for all of us to scratch our heads, yes, but also, to step up to the plate with parents to preserve the social foundation of family.

Join us Saturday please and pledge to commit to charity, a revered and ancient virtue and strength that can go a million miles in love, into the heart of every human.

In a global world of weapons of mass destruction, the love of God we have not tried will equip us saints and sinners with the loving armour necessary to stay the course on this one in long suffering and resolution to get the job done in parenting, leading and forming our families well.

Please call David Kasbow at 734 546 4395 and let him know you're ready to pledge and link arms tomorrow at the prayer breakfast and walk arm in arm to push back the violence
today.