Cleveland-area clergy are calling for peace following this week’s police shootings of two black men in Minnesota and Louisiana, and the killing of five officers in Dallas.
About 30-pastors gathered at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church to urge people to channel their anger over those incidents, and others in Cleveland, into positive action for change. From Ohio Public Radio station WKSU, Kevin Niedermier reports.
The clergy, representing different denominations, prayed for all the shooting victims and their families and asked that residents do the same.
And they urged peaceful protests.
Reverend Max Rodas lead one of several prayers:
Rodas: “It is time for us to repent, it is time for us to look at the person that looks different than us and continue to exemplify, in a very concrete way, to demonstrate the love of God. Let us pray together.”
The clergy called for all churches, synagogues, and mosques to open their doors and give residents opportunities to pray for peace and understanding.
They also urged residents to take advantage of church-sponsored voter registration drives to help making lasting change.