Youth from Global Peace Foundation’s Cross-Community Engagement (CCE) pilot program in Jersey City joined over 15 churches and temples in a special “Stations of the Cross” procession on April 14. Now in its fourth year, the event commemorates the lives of those lost through violent crime in the community.
CCE youth are collaborating with faith leaders, government and NGOs to campaign against the violence in their community. Already participants in vigils and rallies, CCE will also be speaking at schools, police stations and City Hall to spread awareness of the issue and demonstrate solidarity as peace advocates across barriers of race and cultures of all backgrounds.
In an article by NJ.com Journal, demonstrators and participants expressed solemn commitment to end the violence in the most diverse city in the United States.
“We walk as a public witness that God values, cares for, and loves each person, the living and the dead,” organizers said in a statement. “We walk as a witness against the violence that plagues our community and pray that together we can enhance the mutual care and concern that equally characterize our city… This is not a walk of blame. We all share responsibility for what happens on our streets.”
