Boston clergy call for action in response to recent violence

Bob Ward
·2 min read
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Recent deadly violence on Boston’s streets has the city’s clergy demanding action.

Faith leaders are calling for solutions, just hours after another fatal shooting.

One prominent Reverend called out Boston Mayor Michelle Wu by name.

“When this happens, you see the mayor. We’re asking, Mayor Wu: You have to be the leader for all of the city. You can’t ignore the black community,” a clearly frustrated Reverend Eugene Rivers said outside a weekly meeting of the Violence Reduction Task Force.

The meeting of clergy, law enforcement, and city officials came just hours after another fatal shooting in Boston, the city’s seventh murder in 2023.

Boston’s homicide rate is already double what it was at this time last year in 2022.

After the meeting, Reverend Rivers, a co-founder of the Ten Point Coalition, called out Mayor Michelle Wu saying previous mayors were far more visible in violence-stricken neighborhoods.

“She should be meeting with the mothers the black mothers in these violent schools to assure them that she is on top of this thing,” Rev. River charged.

Inside, the Task Force meeting at the Charles St AME Church in Roxbury, Pastor Gregory Groover said Mayor Wu is welcome to join all clergy to find a solution to the city’s street violence.

“We can turn this around. We did it before and by God’s help we will do it again,” Pastor Groover said.

In a statement, the Mayor’s office said in part,

“There is no greater priority for our City than ensuring people feel safe and welcome in their communities…This work requires a coordinated approach and we will continue to dedicate the full weight of all city departments across all neighborhoods to keep our residents safe.”

Pastor Groover said that Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox recently spent two hours meeting with the Task Force behind closed doors and committed to meeting with them at least once a quarter in the future.

Pastor Groover said he is looking forward to meeting with Mayor Wu soon.

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