12/31 Morning Peace Vigil in East Oakland

As the New Year approaches -- Come join a morning vigil for peace in the community

Saturday December 31st --- 8:30am to 9:30am* Meet at corner of 98th Avenue and MacArthur Blvd in Oakland

Help form the human chain to stamp out the violence in East Oakland!

Endorsers include Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Organized by True Fellowship Baptist Church with the Pastors of Oakland

*bring your rain gear, look for people wearing lime green vests

cwa39521/afl-cio

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_3352957 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leaders hope to stamp out 'killing zone'--Human chain intends to bring message of peace By Kamika Dunlap, STAFF WRITER, OAKLAND TRIBUNE

OAKLAND -- About a year ago, Pastor Keith Henderson led a few dozen members from True Fellowship Baptist Church on a 10-mile-radius Walk for Life along what he calls "the killing zone."

The zone in East Oakland where frequent homicides have occurred is bounded by Seminary and 105th avenues, MacArthur Boulevard and San Leandro Street. The walk's mission was to combat neighborhood crime, gang violence and poverty through prayer and community outreach.

At 9 the morning of New Year's Eve, Henderson and members from his congregation will try again to permeate "the killing zone" with their message of peace. This time they will join several other churches, residents and community leaders to use an alternative model to address violence by forming a human chain around "the killing zone," ultimately transforming itinto a "living zone."

Acts Full Gospel, Center of Hope and Holy Redeemer are a few of the churches that will participate. The event will begin with a prayer followed by church bells that will toll in remembrance of homicide victims and their families.

The city has seen 93 homicides so far this year, five more than at this period last year. One of the most recent killings in the zone claimed Georgio Wysinger, 18, of Fremont, who died Dec. 20, a day after he was shot while riding in a car. Services for Wysinger were held Wednesday in Oakland.

"We are tired of seeing young people dying," Henderson said. "There are kids out there that are hard-core and are getting caught up in the lifestyle of the game (crime) because there are no other alternatives."

Organizers also hope the event will help create a plan for city leaders to improve housing and jobs.

"The need for a holistic vision through education and economic empowerment is the only way the church and community will partner together and provide hope and opportunities for remedies for hopelessness and despair in the city," Henderson said.

The event steering committee would like to see churches adopt schools and develop after-school programs. Creating a skills center at churches to provide vocational training would help address community needs, members said.

Pastor Russell Duley of Christian Fellowship Church is on the steering committee. He and members from his church will form a human chain from 73rd to 83rd avenues.

"Churches are crying out and asking in their hearts, 'What can we do?,'" Russell said. "We want to see the quality of life improve and transform Oakland into a city of hope."

For more information about the human chain event, call 632-4646.

Staff writer Kamika Dunlap can be reached at kdunlap [at] angnewspapers.com