LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — In the capital, people said it’s weekends like this one, when four people died and three others were injured, that put the problem of violence and the need to end it into perspective.
“When you commit crimes and shoot people, think a hundred times before you do it, because once the bullet leaves the chamber, there is no turning back,” said Reverend Benny Johnson, founder of Arkansas Stop the Violence.
The group came together on Sunday to honor people in the state who have made great efforts to end violence in their community and to offer condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones over the weekend.
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Johnson said he founded Arkansas Stop the Violence after a senseless tragedy very similar to this weekend’s killings.
“It’s terrible, you know. We have people out there who have no respect for life,” Johnson said.
Rev. Johnson says it all starts with teaching the importance of understanding that problems cannot be solved by resorting to weapons; only words and talking to one another can.
“We need to improve significantly from what we have done so far,” Johnson said.
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Johnson recalled his time as a football player and the words his coaches often heard: “The word team does not have ‘I’ in it.”
Coach Tye Forte was also honored. He was named Arkansas Stop the Violence Man of the Year.
“My two words are: do the right thing,” Forte said. “I’m going to tell the kids to do the right thing and not the wrong thing and then it will be a better life for them and the community.”
Forte says it takes a team and the community as a whole to end the violence.
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“Let’s teach instead of talking and lead by example. I think if we do that, it will help the kids and also the community,” Forte said.
Forte also says that change comes from preaching peace and going beyond the walls of the church to continue the work.
“Losing someone is hard and we want to try to prevent that from happening,” Forte said.
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. was one of the speakers who spoke about Forte.
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“We continue to have leaders like Tye on the football fields, basketball courts and in the classrooms advocating for our youth and showing understanding for a different way of life. So I just want to say thank you to them,” Scott said.
According to the mayor, violent crime in Little Rock continues to decline, but one thing remains the same.
“Unfortunately, when someone dies in Little Rock, nine times out of 10 they look like me and Tye,” Scott said.
Scott says it’s time to come together and help “our brothers and sisters” who are victims of crime and prevent it.
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“We must advocate nonviolence every day in every community,” Johnson said.
Johnson said his condolences went out to families who have lost loved ones to violence, particularly those in this weekend’s events.
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