Clergy leaders denounce Dallas violence, pray for victims
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Many Indianapolis community leaders spoke out Friday in reaction to this week’s violence, including Thursday night’s Dallas shootings.
Clergy leaders gathered to pray for all the victims.
The overwhelming message was one of a desire for peace, but they also expressed disappointment with the violence at the Dallas protest.
“This is not the way that we handle our anger and our frustration,” Ten Point Coalition leader Rev. Charles Harrison said. “These police officers were there at that peaceful protest, there to serve and protect the people that were marching.”
Some called the actions in Dallas disgusting.
“We are absolutely appalled at any violence wherever it might be. That is not the right response to what happened in Minnesota or Louisiana,” New Era Church leader Rev. Clarence C. Moore said.
But they also spoke in support of the families of African-American men killed by officers in those states earlier this week.
“We feel we must do something immediately to begin to stem the tide of what we believe is the over criminalization of people of color in America,” Moore said.
“To bring attention to an ongoing a recurring issue that’s been happening to our people in this country,” Community Member Nigel Long said.
They called for political leaders in this country to tighten gun control laws and provide more training for law enforcement officers.
“If we have open carry guns in the city of Indianapolis, state of Indiana and other places, how does that impact how law officers are being trained?” Concerned Clergy member Stephen J. Clay said.
“Our hearts go out to our great police officers who do a great job every day, but we also want to say we believe there is a reality of implicit bias in America,” Moore said.
And they prayed that more protests planned for the future are peaceful.
The Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition and IMPD will hold a community bike ride for peace Saturday morning. It starts at 9 a.m. and will depart from IPS School 43 at 40th Street and Capitol Avenue.
There is also a similar rally planned for Saturday at 6 p.m. to begin at the library downtown.