Marching against violence

Dec. 10, 2010

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

A prayer for change launched a plan that resulted in a march.

Last night’s Stop the Violence prayer walk on Halco Drive was quiet and respectful as opposed to the violent, mid-morning death of Trevaughn Lamont Thompson on Nov. 30. Using the biblical tale of Jericho as their guide, religious leaders and community residents want the walls of violence to collapse throughout New Castle.

Like the Israelites in the Book of Joshua, seven marches will take place throughout the city.

“Our community and our youth have been hurting for quite some time now,” said Apryl Scrim, a member of St. Paul Baptist Church, located on North Street. “A change is not a recommendation but a must.

“There is an outcry that everybody is ready for a change. Enough is enough.”

After Thompson’s death, Scrim began her efforts with discussions on her Facebook page. That led to prayer vigils, which were held at St. Paul and St. John United Holy Church.

“One person had an idea to use a social network to call people into prayer, and it began to grow,” said Gary Mitchell, who also attends St. Paul.

Mitchell began organizing marches to coincide with the vigils. Last night’s dual event started at Bethel AME Church, 312 Green St. Participants headed past Grant Street through Halco Drive before returning to the church.

“We’ve come out of our comfort zone to take a stand against violence in all its forms, said Mitchell, who also oversees a community outreach and prison ministry called Rebuilding of Life.

“This is a place people call home. We come not to judge or ridicule, but we come to show support and offer some love.”

Approximately 100 people walked on or drove along Halco Drive, which is part of the Grant Street housing development. There was limited activity throughout the duplexes as the marchers moved ahead and past the site where Thompson was shot.

“The violence that we see today is not what it was when I first got here,” said the Rev. Jeannette Hubbard, who has served at Bethel AME Church for 16 years. “There was no violence at all.

“I’m always in a state of wonderment as to why things happen.”

Hubbard said last night’s event showed people united in faith and a common goal.

“Let the city of New Castle know we are working together to break all cycles of violence.”

Vincent Wise, associate minister at St. Paul, said spiritual healing broke his bond with drugs.

“I grew up in the streets,” he said. “I used to sell drugs and use drugs. I was a drug addict.

“It didn’t take rehab to get me off drugs. It was the power of prayer. God came in and cleaned me up.”

Like Hubbard, the Rev. Richard Rue ministers to Halco Drive residents at Union Baptist Church, located on West Grant Street.

“Being that it’s a small area, when anything happens it makes a big scene. There’s some great people there.”

The next prayer vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Prevailing Word World Outreach Ministries, 114 Oakland Ave. Mitchell is planning marches for housing developments at Westview Terrace and Sciota Street.

“If you hear a loud noise in New Castle, that’s the walls coming down,” Wise said.