Contact:
Rev. Victor J. Grigsby; Email: vic6179@aol.com; Tel No: (412) 566-1437
Rev. Glenn Grayson; Email: glennggrayson@aol.com; Tel No: (412) 621-9612
The Hill District Ministers Alliance (HDMA) will hold a “Prayer and Justice” Rally at Freedom Corner (Centre Ave. & Crawford St.) at 2:00 p.m., in Pittsburgh’s Hill District on Sunday, January 4, 2015 to pray for God's blessing and healing upon our communities and our nation, and to respond in non-violent demonstration against the recent
non-verdicts by Grand Juries across our country and to the senseless violence in our communities against civilians and police. We also pray for God's intervention in the homicides in our city and the "Black-on-Black" crime that continues to plague our communities. As we transition into the New Year, with one prophetic voice, the rally is a collective effort to bring people together who have a conviction to pray over the city of Pittsburgh and address the safety and policing concerns of the African American community. This Rally will convene as members of Hill District churches march down Centre Avenue (beginning at Centre and Kirkpatrick at 1:30 p.m.) and join in solidarity and pray for National and World Peace, Federal and Local Governments, and Human and Civil Rights. We will cry out to God and appeal to city officials for community safety.
The Hill District Ministers Alliance, which is leading the Prayer and Justice Rally has organized to provide an avenue for people of all denominations to rally against the violence and victimization of African American males across this country. HDMA’s mission is to bring Pastors and churches together to relieve the burden of all people, promote justice and equality, and to strengthen families and communities and consists of the following nineteen African American churches: F.O.C.U.S. Pittsburgh, Rev. Paul Abernathy, Bethany C.O.G.I.C., Rev. Cleo Brooks, New Light Temple Baptist Church, Rev. Phillip Battle, Warren United Methodist Church, Rev. Leslie Y. Boone, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Vincent Campbell, John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, Rev. Rebecca Cherry, Macedonia Baptist Church, Rev. Brian Edmonds, Church of God in Christ, Rev. Eric Ewell, Wesley Center A.M.E. Zion Church, Rev. Glenn Grayson, Central Baptist Church, Rev. Victor J. Grigsby, New Pilgrim Baptist Church, Rev. William A. Hill, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Rev. Steven A. Jackson, First Church of God in Christ, Rev. Kenneth Irvin, Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, Rev. Johnnie Monroe (Pastor Emeritus), Olivet Baptist Church, Rev. Tyrone Munson, Calvary Baptist Church, Rev. Marie Kelley, Warren United Methodist Church, Rev. Don Blinn, Jr., Trinity A.M.E. Church, Rev. Yolanda Wright, Amani Pastor-Exec. Director, Rev. Lee Walls.
During the Rally, Pastors will address such community concerns and make demands of local officials (Mayor Peduto and Chief of Police McClay) and leaders concerning:
- police community sensitivity training that includes African American leadership in the training
- a Pittsburgh Police force that reflects racially and proportionately the community in which the officers serve with an overall increase in the number of African Americans on the Pittsburgh Police force
- a broader conversation of city officials with the African American community’s leadership to further discuss solutions to:
• poverty and income inequality which couples with it the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce unemployment and poverty among the State’s minority population.
• the equitable allocation of public dollars for community and economic development
• the high degree of incarceration of African Americans
Established as an entity to address community needs as a voice for the underserved and underprivileged, the Hill District Ministers Alliance recognizes the systemic and societal issues that have had negative impact on the African American community and are determined to take action to create justice for all people. We are dedicated to the promotion of human rights, equality, and the complete fulfillment of the Gospel mission “to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8).
30 December 2014
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