The Beloved Community Center was chosen as one of this year’s six recipients for the group’s “dedication” to making North Carolina a “fairer and more just state,” according to an announcement Tuesday from the organization, which highlights those who have made significant contributions to the fight against poverty in the state.

The Greensboro organization is modeled after Martin Luther King’s vision of a “beloved community.” It was selected for its award under the grass-roots empowerment category and was lauded for “its efforts to secure policy changes that improve the lives of minorities and low-income people.”

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At a press conference the day after the shooting many questions were asked of his brother King Peaceful of the ALKQN, Brother TC Muhammad of the Nation of Islam and Rev. Nelson Johnson representing the Greensboro Pulpit Forum in the absence of Rev. Gregory Headen who could not attend but sent a message. The reporters present were looking for details about the event and about whether there would be cooperation in seeking justice. It seemed as though they had completely missed the real question of the afternoon: How is it that this man who is little known and even less understood in this community can be shot and immediately continue his calls for peace while forgiving his attackers?

In a community where people distance themselves from "gang activity" by conceiving of gangs as violent groups that endanger the neighborhoods while the rest of us seek protection from them, it is hard to grasp that a person thought to be a gang leader is seeking peace while the concern of many others is for retribution in the name of justice.

Think of how different this is from the dominant culture which punishes an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  Think of the punitive and even preemptive attacks on known and suspected enemies that receive the unblinking approval from the masses of people. Think of the punishment to people who have been tortured and held for years with no charges leveled against them on the basis of unsubstantiated accusations that they may be enemy combatants.

The details of the shooting will likely emerge from the investigations that are sure to take place in the upcoming weeks. It is likely that at some point some individuals will be named as the likely assailants. Some people will no doubt feel safer when that happens even though we should know by now that the arrest of individual perpetrators has not made our community safe and free from crime. What we will be seeing if someone is caught is some folks who have absorbed all too well the prevalent violent norms of this society while the rest of us remain in denial. If we truly seek to end violence, we need to repudiate the congress, the president, the military, the states, police and the history books and try to learn from Jorge Cornell.

Real justice which is recognizing the full humanity, respecting the dignity and assuring access to the means of a full and meaningful life for all of our brothers and sisters regardless their color, language, religion, gender, gender preference, place of origin and station in life will bring real peace. Calls for retribution, whether they are issued in the downtown halls of power or in the narrow streets of low income neighborhood, will not bring peace.  This is something Jorge Cornell and those who stand with him seem to understand.

I am pleading with those who committed this act against him to come to the table with us and to help us embrace a better way.  You are not our enemies, but our brothers and sisters.  I am urging and inviting every pastor and religious leader to step up to the plate for peace and unity around peace.  I urge the prayer warriors in every faith community to turn up the prayer heat and touch the very throne of God for our brother, Jorge, and the cause that he is so passionate about.

In the normal course of the construct set up by our violent society, the poor and minorities turn on each other as we fight over the crumbs and turf.  The powers that be will not care much if we kill each other.  We must rise up with new appreciation for the life of every human being, with hope for our children, with a desire for a more promising future.  There are those in every race who understand this truth, and are willing to stand for it.  Let's wake up to the realities that stare us in the face.  Let's stop the violence on each other and help each other as brothers and sisters. 

I will continue to challenge the church to be the church in this struggle.  I believe this is the time to turn our nation in a different direction, and it does not surprise me that the most vulnerable in the whole arrangement will offer the leadership that is needed at this critical time.

[Read more of the official article in the attached .pdf document or visit Huami Magazine at www.huamimagazine.com]

The agreement is framed as a beginning.  In the nearly four weeks since the June 23rd media conference, there has been considerable questioning of motives, expressed cynicism, and negative views conveyed through various media outlets and in some blogs.  However, other reports reflect that meetings in churches and community centers have been positive, hopeful, and encouraging.  Rev. Gregory Headen, President of the Greensboro Pulpit Forum and Rev. Nelson Johnson, Vice President of the Pulpit Forum and also Executive Director of the Beloved Community Center (BCC), were invited to be a part of the July 23rd discussions.

The Pulpit Forum will be discussing the best ways to make the broader community aware of the intent of the organizations and gangs involved, some of the challenges they are facing, and how the community might be helpful.  In the meantime, the Beloved Community Center is posting the agreed upon statement growing out of the July 23rd meeting as a contribution to the peacemaking process.  We would welcome any suggestions, recommendations, or general feedback on our online discussion board.

1.  We, all parties present, are committed to peace with each other and among each other.

2.  We, all parties present, recognize that as leaders and individuals representing or associated with the groups and organizations named above do not necessarily speak for all who are members, or consider themselves members, of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, the Almighty Black Peace Stone Nation, the Crips, the Five Percenters, the Piru Bloods, the Muslims, or Christians.   We, therefore, reach out to and call upon all persons associated with the above mentioned groups and organizations or any other groups, organizations, or gangs in the community, especially youth, to lay down violence and join us in working together for peace among us and within our community.

3. We commit to work together on positive community projects and activities.  Specifically, we agree:
a.) To clean up the graffiti in our community.
b.) To educate our community, especially the youth, on the history and original intent of the groups mentioned above and others understood as “gangs.”
c.)  To work together to bring about more unity and understanding between Black and Brown people.

4. We agree to ask clergy associated with the Pulpit Forum of Greensboro to help communicate to the broader community and public our sincere intent, as well as some of the challenges that we face.

I stepped over classroom chairs and watched the special ed create magic from numbers.

I stepped over concrete and found the desperateness of the city graffiti-ed on the wall.

I stepped over tiles and found that rich people have problems posted in galleries.

I stepped over carpet and watched a 9-year-old tell a story with stick figures and printer paper.

I stepped over railroad tracks and found a hobo screaming to the stars with a harmonica.

Every day, I stepped over a hardwood floor in my sister’s room to bring the arts to my sister’s world,
Because I love her more than art.

I believe that ANYTOWN and the idea of The Beloved Community are deeply connected. The lessons learned at ANYTOWN encourage people to go out and build such a community. While on the mountain, you become a part of a family that is willing to fight for justice and peace alongside you. I remember thinking on the Sunday that I arrived as a delegate, "What the hell can these people teach me?" I quickly discovered that ANYTOWN is not a school, nor is it your typical leadership camp. ANYTOWN is a place where everyone brings something to the table and each individual's contribution makes the community stronger and more efficient. While opinions may differ drastically, we are shown that people are more than the labels that society places on them and with that understanding we are able to create a community that is filled with love, understanding, and respect. 

This community is then given the unique opportunity to take its experience on the mountain and share it with the rest of the world. The Beloved Community that is created and felt at ANYTOWN can now move forward and help to create similar spaces and experiences in the wider community.

A connection made

Jorge Cornell, known as King J, is head Inca and leader of the ALKQN in North Carolina. Cornell and other members of the ALKQN participated in the BCC's weekly community meeting on Wednesday, June 25th at the invitation of Javier Garcia, a friend of the BCC and member of FaithAction International House. He suggested the connection while working with the ALKQN in their effort to build bridges with other gangs, associations, organizations and the religious community.

Cornell along with several members of the ALKQN shared about the history of their organization as well as their desire to combat the racist forces pressing down on the Latino community. After hearing their story of struggle and transformation, those around the BCC table – a weekly space for sharing community concerns – expressed their deep appreciation and agreed to explore how to deepen our common work.

Backlash

The opportunity for such a deepening came quickly when Rev. Johnson received a call Thursday evening from Cornell seeking spiritual guidance. Cornell had learned that Police Officers had visited several of his friends at home and on the job and indicated that there was a warrant for his arrest.

"I asked him what he wanted to do about this," said Rev. Johnson. "What he didn't want was the police kicking in his door in the middle of the night. So after some conversation, we agreed that he should turn himself in." After a time of prayer, Rev. Johnson, along with Willena Cannon, accompanied Cornell to the magistrate and turn himself in.

Arriving at the Magistrate, Cornell gave his name and shared that the police were looking for him with a warrant for his arrest. After checking the files for the Greensboro Police Department, the Guilford County Sherriff's Department, and a special gang database, no warrant was found. Reflecting on this experience, Cornell came to believe that the Police had visited his friends in response to his call for peace published in an article Thursday's Que Pasa. Given the choice of allowing the powers to stop the movement before it started or to press on and use the persecution as fuel for the fire, Cornell chose the latter.

Following their late night visit to the Magistrate, Rev. Johnson agreed to call together other area ministers to talk with Cornell and hear his vision. Rev. Greg Headen, Rev. Cardes Brown, and Rev. Clarence Shuford met with Cornell and Rev. Johnson at Faith Community Church Saturday afternoon. Much like the meeting with the BCC, the pastors were encouraged and pledged their support for Cornell and his effort. Rev. Brown felt it was an answer to prayer.

Sounding the call

In order to amplify the call and discredit the effort to silence Cornell's message, the pastors agreed to organize the media conference for Monday.

The media and community turnout was significant. Members of the AKQLN were represented along with Father Fidel Melo of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Mark Sills and Javier Garcia of Faith Action, members of the Pulpit Forum, and school board member Deen Hayes. In total there were over fifty representatives of the community and media.

Following Rev. Johnson's introduction, Cornell issued his call was for gang members to lay down the criminal aspects of their activity and use their organizations to combat racist injustice. "My goal is to bring peace to the streets; black and brown, come together as one. I'm asking for all Bloods, Crips, MS-13, everybody out there that represents something, to put your weapons down and let's come to a table so we can talk peace."

He shared particular concern for how Latino immigrants have been targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling on Black and Brown people to join together against Section 287-G of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a law that allows local law enforcement agencies to serve as immigration agents.

The question and answer period was beautiful and powerful, in spite of combative and dismissive questions from some media representatives. One reporter asked, "Are you saying that there is no gang violence in Greensboro?"

Cornell responded, "I never said there was no violence, but not every gang member is bad. It's like a church, if you have a church and you have somebody in there that rapes a girl, do you go out and prosecute the whole church?"

Rev. Headen closed the media conference giving thanks for the "possibilities of this moment." The conference was followed by more than an hour of conversation with concerned community members.

Sharing the table: Carrying the work forward

Cornell has already begun to build the unity that he is hoping for. "I'm hoping that we get some more responses and the more people we get to come to the table, some of these gangs, nations and associations," he said. "That's where we go from here. The next step is to sit down."

We are hopeful that this represents a significant and powerful step toward the vision of peace and unity that Cornell has been sharing.

Faith Action International House (336-379-0037) and the Beloved Community Center (336-230-0001) are serving as contacts for Cornell. The BCC will continue to open its table and invite any who want to make our community more just and inclusive to participate in our weekly meeting on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at 417 Arlington St.