GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Members of the Grand Rapids Association of Pastors came together Thursday to call for an end to racism and violence in the community.
They gathered on the front steps of Pilgrim Rest Baptist church, and spoke about unjust actions by police officers in West Michigan and across the country.
"The anger, rage, violence that has broken out in our city as part of this pain, and we want the destruction to stop," said Pastor Sam Moffett of The House of God Family Life Ministries. "However, violence begets violence. And we need the root of this to be faced."
People also got down on one knee for nine minutes in remembrance of George Floyd.
Those who spoke with FOX 17 said racism is tearing our community apart, and is on each and every one of us to amplify the voices of those most impacted by injustice to inspire change.
"I am grateful for these black, white, and brown men that have assembled today to stand to say the ceiling of racism is no longer acceptable," said pastor Jathan Austin of Bethel Empowerment Church. "The ceiling of racism is no longer tolerated ... We are standing together as one body, the body of Christ. We're not standing as denominations. We're not standing as black men, white men, white men, brown men, we are standing as the body of Christ, standing for righteousness."
