BY BRANDY TEMPLETON
Clean Heart of Statesville hosted the 11th annual Stop the Violence event in Statesville on Saturday.
Representatives from Cochran Street Bible Church, Statesville Police Department, Statesville Fire Department, Iredell-Statesville Schools, Statesville NAACP Branch, My Sister’s House, Iredell County Emergency Services, City of Statesville and other community partners attended the event at Alex Cooper Park.
The community gathering, attended by several hundred people, focused on unity, peace and action. There was music, dancing, food and fun activities for the children.
Statesville City Council member Doris Allison said she has hope for the future.
After reporting on three cases in which family members, including two brothers and a nephew, were killed in violence, she said her faith in God got her through.
“God can give you strength, you don’t even know it,” she said. “The only way to stop violence is education and love.”
She said the violence must stop to prevent others from losing their lives and one way is to invest in her community.
“We have been under the microscope for too long,” she said. “It’s time to put the positive in the spotlight.”
Todd Scott, president of the Statesville branch of the NAACP, is also keen to improve the situation in the area and improve relations. He is fed up with gun violence and wants everyone to look out for each other.
“We have to look out for our brothers,” Scott said. “We all came into this world the same, and we all go out the same.”
He said his focus was on educating young people.
“It changes your mindset,” Scott said. “I say instead of a gun, pick up a book.”
Pastor Thomas McDaniels of Cochran Street Bible Church said the answer is to turn to Christ.
“We pray that these streets will be covered with the blood of Jesus Christ, that neighbors will embrace one another, and that all homes will become safe havens for one another.”
