LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- People in the capital city said its weekends like this when four people died and three others were injured that put into perspective the issue of violence and the need to put it to an end.
“If you are out committing crimes, you out shooting at people, think 100 times before you do it because once that bullet leaves that chamber, there’s no coming back,” Arkansas Stop the Violence Founder Reverend Benny Johnson said.
The group gathered Sunday to honor people in the state who have made strides to end violence in their community and express their condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones over the weekend.
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According to Johnson, he started Arkansas Stop the Violence after a senseless tragedy, much like the homicides that happened this weekend.
“It’s terrible, you know. We have people out there with just total disregard for life,” Johnson said.
Rev. Johnson says it all starts with teaching the importance that picking up a gun does not solve problems; only words and speaking with one another can.
“We are going to have to do much better than what we’re doing,” Johnson said.
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Johnson recalled his days of playing football and something his coaches often said that there is no “I” in the word team.
Coach Tye Forte was among the honored. He was awarded Arkansas Stop the Violence Man of the Year.
“My two words are do right,” Forte said. “I’ll tell the kids, they do right, not do wrong, and it’ll be a better life for them and the community as well.”
Forte says it will take a team and the community as a collective whole to help stop violence.
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“Instead of talking, let’s teach and let’s lead by example, I think if we do that it will help the kids and will help the community as well,” Forte said.
Forte also says that change will come by preaching peace and stepping outside the walls of the church to continue the work.
“Losing somebody is, it is tough, and we want to do things to try to prevent those things from happening,” Forte said.
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. was one of the speakers who spoke of Forte.
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“We continue to have leaders like Tye on the football fields, basketball courts, the classrooms, serving our youth and understanding a different way of life, so I just want to say thank you,” Scott said.
According to the mayor, the violent crime trend in Little Rock continues to decrease, but one thing remains the same.
“Unfortunately, when someone dies in Little Rock, nine times out of 10, they look like me and Tye,” Scott said.
Scott says it’s time to come together and help “our brothers and sisters” who are crime victims and prevent it.
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“We have to push nonviolence on a daily basis through every community,” Johnson said.
Johnson said his heart goes out to each family who has lost a loved one to violence, especially those from this weekend’s events.
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