“Today there is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence.”
-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., excerpted from a 1967 interview
PHILADELPHIA PA – Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and the Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr., former Mayor of Philadelphia, today joined with the Corporation for National and Community Service and local anti-violence organizations to launch “40 Days of Nonviolence: Building the Beloved Community.”
The initiative, organized nationwide by the Corporation for National and Community Service to begin with the Martin Luther King Day of Service 2008, honors Dr. King’s vision of building a “beloved community” of peace and brotherhood, and marks the 40th year since his assassination.
“What a tribute to his memory it would be if, person by person, city by city, all across this land, people said, I’m going to commit myself to what Dr. King lived for, and essentially died for. . . that we could solve our differences in a nonviolent way,” Dr. Goode said, while urging Philadelphians to sign and observe the King Center “Pledge of Nonviolence” during a press conference today at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“Building the Beloved Community” spotlights more than 40 community organizations, agencies and programs that will spearhead the effort to “boycott violence” for 40 days, beginning with the Day of Service, on Jan. 21, and ending on Feb. 29.
Today marks the nationwide kickoff for “40 Days of Nonviolence: Building the Beloved Community,” which the Corporation for National and Community Service is introducing for 2008 King Day observances, according to Jonathan Williams, the agency’s director of corporate relations.
Congressman Fattah praised the work of grassroots organizations that are fighting to stop the violence at the neighborhood level, and urged Philadelphians to join their efforts.
“We are going to be saluting and recruiting and acknowledging and supporting the world of community organizations” as part of the 40 Days of Nonviolence, Fattah said. “So many organizations are doing so much. Join these groups, volunteer your time and energy.”
E. Steven Collins of Radio One, a major supporter and promoter of the nonviolence initiative, announced that the next Guns for Guns exchange will be conducted on the King holiday observance, Monday January 21, at the Columbia YMCA in North Philadelphia. Details will be announced later this week. Citizens are asked to turn over any firearm and receive vouchers for food or other goods.
Dr. Steven M. Altschuler, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital, pointed out, “Violence is the leading cause of death among children.” Dr. Joel Fein of Children’s Hospital, director and principal investigator for the Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center, described the work of the Collaborative, which includes Penn, Temple and Drexel Universities, in developing innovative strategies to death with violence as a public health crisis.
“Forty Messages of Peace for 40 Days of Nonviolence” from Dr. King, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, rock star Bono and others were also released as part of the initiative.
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NOTE TO MEDIA: Contact this office or Public/Private Ventures, http://www.ppv.org for copies of the King Center Pledge of Nonviolence, “40 Messages of Peace for 40 Days of Nonviolence” and a list of participating community organizations. Or call 215-557-4412.
To participate in or learn about the Martin Luther King Day of Service in the Philadelphia area on January 21, see http://www.mlkdayofservice.org.
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Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
www.house.gov/fattah
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