Antioch Faith, Community Leaders and Residents March Against Violence

East County March Against Violence marchers head north on A Street in Antioch, Sunday evening, July 8, 2012.

By Allen Payton, Publisher

About 40 faith, community leaders and residents from Antioch and East County joined together on Sunday night, July 8, 2012 to march against violence in Antioch.

East County March Against Violence marchers

Led by Antioch Church Family and coordinated by Contra Costa Interfaith Community Supporting Organization (CCISCO), faith leaders, such as Pastor Tuma Johnson of International Christian Ministry in Pittsburg and community leaders, such as Keith and Iris Archuleta of the Youth Intervention Network, Mayor Pro Tem Wade Harper and Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig, participated in the march.

“We were hoping to bring the faith community together, primarily in Antioch, but all of far East County to visibly make a statement to the community that we are aware and that we stand with those concerned about the violence in Antioch and East County,” said Irish Archuleta. “Also, we wanted to make a strong statement to those committing the violence that we are not sitting by idly and letting that happen.”

Nearly a dozen congregations from the area have joined the movement that aims to bring hope and address the issue of violence in East County.  The participating congregations include: St. John Lutheran Church; Antioch Christian Center, Antioch Church Family, East County Shared Ministry (Pittsburg Community Presbyterian & First Congregational Church of Antioch); International Christian Ministry; Grace Bible Fellowship; St. Ignatius of Antioch; Most Holy Rosary Church; Islamic Center of the East Bay; and St. George Episcopal Church.

This was the second of monthly marches planned for the second Sunday at 7 p.m.  The march will start at a different church, each month.

After witnessing violence in their own churches and the impact it was having on their congregation members, the faith leaders were determined to do something to address the critical issue of violence.  The night walks is only the first step in what they see as a strategy to decrease the violence in their communities.

The Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) is a federation of 25 religious congregations, seven different denominations, representing 35,000 families in Contra Costa County. CCISCO is an active member of the PICO National Network.  For more information call (925) 779-9302 or visit them at 202 G Street, Suite 1 or online at www.CCISCO.org.

 


the attachments to this post:


East County United Against Violence shirt close-up


East County March Against Violence marchers 1


East County March Against Violence marchers 2


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