Church members and residents to protest gang violence with prayer, Sunday, April 1, at Noon
Pastor will take Sunday service to the streets to raise community attention on youth killed
Members of Greater St. John Bible Church and its pastor, the Rev. Ira Acree will take Sunday’s service to the streets on Chicago’s west side to focus attention on the senseless violence that is taking place in Chicago as well as the recent injustice against slain youth Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida.
The Sunday Service will be held April 1 at Noon at Greater St. John Bible Church, 1256 N. Waller Ave
Community residents, police and elected officials will join Pastor Acree and members of the church’s mentoring program in leading a prayer service in the Austin neighborhood. While the group seeks to express their solidarity with the Martin family, they hope to express their outrage at the youth murdered in Chicago this year.
“While many of us are justifiably upset about the slaying of Trayvon Martin in Florida, we are even more outraged about the excessive number of youth that have been killed right under our nose here in Chicago since school started,” stated Pastor Acree.
Acree and community leaders will call on state legislators to invest money in mentoring programs of faith based institutions and for the state to create 2,000 summer jobs for youth on Chicago’s west side.
In 2008, Illinois had summer work program that provided jobs for up to 10,000 youth, helping them establish productive work habits while investing in their communities.
“Many people unfortunately resort to violence out of their desperation, it is imperative that we do everything in our power and on our watch to protect our youth and provide them with positive life options,” added Acree.
Last week, Pastor Acree spoke on behalf of the community along with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Gary McCarthy, after police arrested several gang members on drug charges. Mayor Emanuel stated that more clergy need to come outside of the church buildings to minister to the entire community.
Ironically this march takes place on Palm Sunday — just as Jesus made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, this group will walk down the streets on Chicago’s west side.
Those who will be in attendance are members of Greater St. John Bible Church, community leaders, and elected officials, including Rev. Ira Acree, Honorable Deborah Graham – 29th Ward, Commander Hector Rodriguez of CPD District 25, Commander Barbara West of CPD District 15, Patricia Van Pelt Watkins, Democratic nominee for 5th Senate District, Willie Williams Jr., who will commemorate the 6th year anniversary of his 17 year old son Willie Williams II’s death. The younger Williams was murdered on April 1, 2006, coming out of Ford city Movie Theatre. Ron Holt, father of slain Julian High school student Blair Holt will also attend.
