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Beloved Community Center Statement Regarding "Gangs"
by Collective Authorship
Jul. 28, 2008
On June 25, 2008, at a media briefing held at Faith Community Church, Jorge Cornell, Inca (leader) of the North Carolina Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, called for all gangs to lay down violence and crime and to work together for peace and justice in the community. Jorge, along with others, has been working since the June media conference to bring together a representative group of “gang” leaders to work out a program and process for peace. On July 23, 2008, a rainy Wednesday night in Greensboro, members and associates of the organizations and “gangs” mentioned in the official document, sat down for over three hours to hammer out an initial agreement.
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.