California Black Media

Share Link:

Article courtesy of The Oakland Post.
For more stories, visit The Oakland Post online.   

By Lee Hubbard --

Violence was renounced this past weekend in a prayer vigil led by the Reverend Staci Current at the “Peace in the City” rally at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 1975 Post Street in San Francisco. The Pastor, The Rev. Staci Current who led the vigil said, “We wanted to start the year in prayer, support the community and build upon relationships, in an effort to change the outcome of violence.”

The vigil was an interdenominational vigil representing various churches and community groups remembering the victims of violence in San Francisco. Other pastors included The Reverend Nina Pickerell of Grace Cathedral and Pastor Port Wilburn of Rock Harbor Christian Fellowship.

Speeches, poetry readings and prayer for the victims of violence and their families marked the occasion, as well as a reading of the names of the 2009 homicides in San Francisco, including candles to honor the fallen.

The death of Roger Young is one example of stories told. Randy Hood was in shock when he heard his 25-year-old step-son Roger Young was found dead at his friend’s house in the Ocean View area of San Francisco. “Roger walked into an armed robbery, when visiting a friend’s home,” said Hood. “Three people took two bullets in the head, two were killed and the other person was paralyzed. Till this day, they have not found the killer.”

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi of District 5 described the vigil as, “very moving, showing that grassroots action can bring results.” He cited examples, “The homicide rate in San Francisco has dropped more than 50 percent from 2008 to 2009, down from 99 in 2008 to 45 in 2009.” He added, “We have addressed many issues that can stop homicide, from more police foot patrols, to beefing up probation departments, having more social services and violence prevention programs.”

David Chiu, the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said the decrease in homicides is good, but more work is needed, as “many murders are still unsolved”

“Communities need to come together and speak out against violence, and we need to implement more of the new police reforms and give more money to social service, jobs and education.”