On Good Friday, Shalom House, our West Philly community of proactive peacemakers, led us to partner with Heeding God’s Call to hold vigil at the Shooter Shop in Kensington . It was a powerful way to collectively engage and reflect on Jesus’ death and mourn victims of gun violence in our city. In 2009, in Philadelphia , 173 people were killed by firearms.
A group of 32 people from Circle of Hope processed from our building at Frankford and Norris and met with at least 30 more people from our church community. Circle of Hope really came out strong! We gathered outside the gun shop with neighborhood families, some who have lost loved ones to gun violence, and 39 other faith-based groups that partner with Heeding God’s Call. We are calling on all gun shops in Philadelphia to sign the Code of Conduct that would help eliminate guns from illegally entering our streets.
Photographs are courtesy of Jamie Moffett (link: http://www.jamiemoffett.com) More images are posted here
outside the Shooter Shop/NRA counter-protesters
What a strong and beautiful portrait of Jesus’ love. Thanks to everyone who participated.