My walk for peace - a firsthand account

Photo credit: @AlyssaHymanWPTV

Although we were dripping wet at the end, it felt good to have participated in the "Peace Walk" last Friday evening. Mayor Jeri Muoio welcomed those gathered and made a few brief remarks, as did The Rev. Kevin Jones (Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church), who offered a prayer. The walk began at approximately 6:00 p.m. as we headed off from the starting point outside of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 718 3rd Street. We walked for about one hour, most of it spent in blazing sun interspersed with brief moments of slight, cooling breezes.

Curious people peered from their windows or looked on from verandas and sidewalks, some waving and smiling. Others stood at corners and watched quizzically or smiled, while many went about business as usual with just a cursory glance.

There were a few police outriders, as well as a few cars and a few who walked with us.

We raised our voices and chanted, "Peace In The Street .......Now!" at intervals. There was a self-appointed "leader," whose booming baritone rang out, "What do we want?" to which we responded, "Peace In The Street...... Now! Even Mayor Muoio, who was walking alongside me at one time was repeating the words. I walked with some of the other members of St. Patrick's (there were only 6 of us altogether) who braved the hot sun and were "game" for the almost 3-mile trek.

I looked on with admiration at the various groups of people --- teams in matching t-shirts -- "Guardian Angels," families dressed alike. One gentleman, dressed in pink, long-sleeved shirt. with (purplish) tie and "Fedora Hat," was soaking wet, the evidence of sweat reaching down to the top of his cream-colored pants.

The passion and camaraderie was palpable as we made our way throughout the neighborhoods.

Did you know that there is a "hill" in West Palm Beach? We found that out the hard way (it's somewhere in the vicinity of 19th St.) but it wasn't a very long distance to cover and, fortunately, there was a slight breeze at the time.

The most poignant moments were definitely when we stopped at 3 different points along the way to offer prayers for the victims of the recent shootings (I believe it was at the different areas where the deaths occurred -- or close to). Canon Joe was the first of the priests present who was asked to pray; he was followed by Reverends Gerald Kisner, Kevin Jones and another whose name I did not get. Mayor Muoio addressed the gathering at the end, following which there was another prayer by one of the neighborhood pastors.

Our small group of 6 left the area for much needed refreshments before heading home, thinking that it was well worth the effort --- the "marish and the parish" walking with State representatives and police, as we all work for a community that lives in peace and harmony.