L.A. Gang summit for peace and unity brought together rappers, police and religious leaders during the Time To Unite: United Hoods + Gangs Nation event.
Jayceon Terrell Taylor, popularly known by his stage name, The Game, last Sunday (July 17), organized an anti-violence community summit at the Church of Scientology Community Center, South Los Angeles. According to the American rapper and actor, it was the recent death of his foster brother 'Spanky' during a shootout in Los Angeles that prompted him to organize the event. He also said during the event that he is doing it for the future of his children as well. He is hoping that by the time his daughter turns 18, she would be able to walk out the door safely.
Rappers Gang Summit: Rally for Racial Unity at the Church of Scientology Community Center[/tweetthis]
The meeting comes in the wake of several high-profile violent incidents that saw a number of police officers and gang members getting killed in the city.
The summit was also attended by L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, Police Chief Charlie Beck, Nation of Islam minister Tony Mohammed, American hip hop recording artist and philanthropist will.i.am, several anti-gang activists, and a number of gang members, including members from the street gangs Bloods, and Crips. The event that was titled Time to Unite: United Hoods + Gangs Nation attracted the local crowd as well, who watched the live broadcast of the meeting from outside the Community Center. The organizers distributed water to the people outside to battle the intense summer heat.
Chief Beck, who shook hands with The Game during the event as a show of unity, called the meeting the initial step towards curbing violence in the city.
Alex Sanchez, veteran gang interventionist, who called for peace and unity between the black community members and the Latino community during the meeting, said that the only way to create peace in the neighborhood is by reaching out to each other.
Love when celebrities show they are hunan.. THIS:The Game's tearful plea at L.A. gang summit https://t.co/kgELsI9xta
— Jason J. Carter (@jjcforever) July 18, 2016
The Game, who has about 6.6 million followers on Instagram, said that they should all strive to be better role models for the younger generation. “It is like a bus going through the city, a bus of positivity, and love. It is necessary to keep the doors open so that everyone could get on it.”
No inappropriate incidents happened during the event, mainly because The Game, prior to the meeting, urged everyone coming to the event to leave their weapons behind, and to come sober. The 'urge' was followed by a polite warning that anyone making a scene would be respectfully dealt with and removed from the building.
Los Angeles has so far seen two events led by prominent rappers to curb the violence that has been happening in the city for the past few months. Earlier this month, Snoop Dogg and The Game led a peaceful march to LAPD headquarters, and requested the Mayor and the Police Chief to improve relations between minority communities, and the authorities.