PITTSBURGH — Hundreds gathered in Point State Park to celebrate Juneteenth and local advocacy groups wanted to use the holiday to send a loud message to everyone there.
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Local activists say the holiday can be used to celebrate unity which will be necessary to get people to commit to anti-violence actions throughout the city.
“We need to be free of violence, we need to be free of a kid being able to pick up a gun and go and shoot somebody,” said Tim Stevens, president of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP).
Stevens and B-PEP teamed with The Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence (CAV) to try to find that unity.
The organizations were allowed to host a special “anti-violence hour” during the Juneteenth celebration.
Pastors, ministers and anti-violence advocates all spoke during the alluded time.
“We are saying Juneteenth is a great day to have that commitment live in our souls and our minds and memories,” said Stevens.
Click here to learn more about B-PEP.
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