Members of the choir walk into the sanctuary singing during Easter services at the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church on Williams Street. The church, whose pastor, David Strong, was killed in his home in Oct. 2010, will host “Stepping Against Violence” events on Saturday.IF YOU GO• What: The Rev. David Harrison Strong “Steppin’ Against Violence” 5K Walk/Run and memorial service• When: 5K starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday; memorial service at 7 p.m. Saturday• Where: St. Paul AME Church, 2514 Williams St.• Cost: $5 to participate in the 5K
A Chattanooga fire captain will read the names of at least 30 people during a memorial service Saturday – all from Chattanooga; all murdered.
“So many young black men are dying here for no purpose,” said Chattanooga resident William Green, who lost two nephews to violence. “The question is: What can we do to prevent it?”
Of 25 people killed by violence in 2011, more than half were under age 30 and six were under 21. Five people have been slain so far this year.
The Rev. Kenneth Love, pastor at St. Paul AME Church, is organizing the Rev. David Harrison Strong “Steppin’ Against Violence” 5K walk/run Saturday to remember people who have died by violence. The walk/run will begin at St. Paul, where Strong was pastor before being beaten and stabbed to death in 2010.