The hip-hop community teams up with local leaders to help bring peace to the violence stricken city
America’s urban communities have far too often been the sights of horrendous gun violence that rivals any warring nation. Essentially many of our inner city communities have turned into battle grounds, where teenagers and the innocent often face the harsh realities of their environments. “Street soldiers” lose their lives not over liberation or personal rights, but over street corners, old grudges, and brief moments of monumental anger. Newark, NJ has a history of being one such place, where the sounds of sirens and gun fire are just as normal as the latest Newark artist track glarring from radio speakers. Just last year in one 24-hour period 12 people were victims of gun violence, leaving eight wounded, and four dead. In an attempt to end the violence various artists from the hip-hop community, many native to New Jersey, have teamed up with local leaders to attempt to put a cease to the senseless gun violence and bring peace to the “Brick City”.
The “24 Hours of Peace, Occupy Clinton Avenue”, event has been Spearheaded by Newark City Councilman, and activist Ras Baraka. The outdoor event began Friday August 24 at 6PM and will end Saturday at 6PM. Baraka hopes to achieve community unity and togetherness through the event, hopefully encouraging the youth, and warring neighborhoods to put down their guns and come together.
It is no secret as to the rich hip-hop culture throughout Newark; producing such artist as Redman, Rah Digga, and Naughty By Nature. Event coordinators hope that through music, poetry, and dance their “Time Out” message of unity will help end the violence in more than violent times.The block-party type event will play host to a number of artist including the aforementioned Rah Digga and Treach of Naughty by Nature, as well as, Do It All Lords of the Underground, tap legend Savion Glover, and a plethora of local artist. Coordinators hope that these famed artists can use their skills, words, and influence to once again shed light on this crippling social issue, and hopefully bring rationality into the fray.
With cities such as Chicago and Memphis being overwhelmed with death by the hands behind triggers, one can only hope that the “24 Hours of Peace” event can help open eyes, as well as doors for other events to help put a cease fire to the gun violence in our urban communities. And hopefully bring together some of the most powerful voices in the hip-hop community to help rectify this dyer situation; a situation that is destroying many of their home towns. One day of peace, can save families and the community from an eternity of despair.
