DETROIT – Pastors Barry Randolph and Ovella Davis were shocked when they learned of Sunday’s mass shooting on Detroit’s east side.
Both served as chaplains to law enforcement and were asked to attend Monday’s (July 8) briefing on the recent string of block party shootings.
“When that call came yesterday to say over 20 people were shot, it was a kick in the stomach, just unbelievable,” said Pastor Randolph, who started the annual “Silence the Violence Walk” in 2008 after the murder of a community member.
Randolph and Davis felt there should be a spiritual response and mobilization to this rash of violence.
“We need to get hearts changed, we need to get minds changed, and we have to create a new consciousness in communities of crisis,” said Pastor Davis.
On Monday, July 15, the pair will open the doors of the Church of the Messiah on East Grand Boulevard at noon for all grieving.
They’re asking anyone and everyone to come together with them to promote change and healing.
“We have 19 people in the hospital right now that’s going to deal with emotional and physical injuries for the rest of their life and their families,” said Davis.
But Monday’s invitation is just the beginning of the work they hope to do.
--> 3 killed, 24 hurt in 6 Detroit block party shootings -- what officials plan to do about it
The Island View community, which is home to the Church of the Messiah, hasn’t seen a homicide since 2008.
Randolph, who has worked tirelessly to address gun violence by remembering victims and connecting survivors to resources, says he wants to share with the estimated 4,000 churches throughout the city strategies he found can help.
“We have people in the congregations who are in the mental health industry, medical, teachers, who do workforce development, we never talk about bringing those resources together as a whole,” Randolph said, but he’s working on doing that now, and refers to his plan as The Orange Mile.
Randolph continued:
“We’re going to teach communities how to organize one square mile with the church being in the center, a small enough area where they can actually make a difference and call people to action.”
Orange is the color used by activists demanding an end to gun violence.
Anything with an Orange Mile marker would symbolize “This is a safe community, and this has been declared a safe community,” said Randolph.
Both chaplains hope everyone will adopt Pastor Ovellas’ “Code 22″ initiative, which has been recognized by counties and cities across southeast Michigan.
On the 22nd of every month, they invite people to wear white and acknowledge that day as a day of peace.
They hope other religious leaders will also use this day to speak directly to people grieving and processing trauma.
More: 1 dead, 1 injured in double shooting on Detroit’s east side
Full briefing
You can watch Monday’s full briefing in the video below.