MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People calling for action after one of the most violent weekends to hit the city. Six incidents, nine people shot, and two people killed. Crime showed no race, age, gender or zip code.
No word from the police director or the mayor, but area churches and anti-violence programs are taking notice.
“These young people are waiting on us,” said Bloomfield Baptist Church Pastor Ralph White.
He said he’s not going to give up on fighting crime.
“Crooks don’t stop crooking when it rains or snows, and we have got to be just as consistent,” he said.
Just this weekend, there were robberies, carjackings, murders and shootings throughout the city.
At the same time, White and volunteers from his church set up a tent on Parkway and Florida.
For a week, 24 hours a day, they were there to show troubled teens, men and women they cared.
“We said three things to them. One: we say we are here because we love you. The second thing we say is we have not been here. You have had rolls but no models, and third, we ask if we can pray for you,” said White.
Whether it was a hug, advice or an escape, “If you get out there, that’s how you change the flow of atmosphere and what’s going on,” White said.
He said they’ll follow up with those who stopped by, and will hold more events in neighborhoods plagued with crime.
His ministry is also organizing a “Gas for Guns” event. They’ll give you gas for your guns, no questions asked.
White said he is also set to meet with Mayor A C Wharton this week.
“We have got to move beyond politics and start really caring for the people,” said White.
White said if any church or organization wants to team up, let him know.
WREG will let you know as soon as he sets a date for the “Gas for Guns” event.