Organizer hopes to form coalition following Community Speaks anti-violence march set for today in Salisbury

Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 25, 2017

By Shavonne Potts

By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The ultimate goal for a march scheduled in downtown Salisbury today, said minister Latasha Wilks, is for the community to unite to put an end to violence.

The Community Speaks march is planned from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the graffiti wall at East Horah and South Main streets.

The march will begin at the graffiti wall, circle the block, follow East Innes Street and return to the graffiti wall, where there will be speakers and performances.

The march will draw attention to the recent violence that has plagued the city, Wilks said, adding that community leaders have come together in efforts to address the issue. In a march invitation on social media, Wilks said that people who stand in the realm of nonviolence should join the march.

Wilks said that life matters, no matter what walk of life you come from.
She hopes that city leaders and officials will attend because “when it’s all said and done, the community needs to see us all come together.”
The demonstration will include the following speakers: Wilks, associate minister of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church; Anthony Smith, pastor of Mission House; Alvena Heggins, founder of the Human Praxis Institute; Bradley Taylor, senior pastor of Outreach Christian Ministries; and Minette Smith, director of Greater Women and Men United.
Performances will be by soloists Danielle Burris and Younique Starz, directed by Jamella Brown, who will sing “Colors on the Ground.”
Burris lost her daughter, TaLisha Crowder, to violence a year ago. The Pfeiffer University student was killed by a former boyfriend.
Wilks said she hopes that families like the Burrises and many others who’ve lost loved ones to violence will be touched by the speakers’ and performers’ words.
She said the families need to have hope that one day they will find out who killed their family members to at least provide a sense of peace.

“We will stand in love, honor, peace, respect and, most of all, nonviolence,” she said.

Wilks is also president of Let’s Lend a Helping Hand Inc.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.

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