Walk is planned in response to violence
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on July 29, 2016 1:46 PM
Everlena Eason is heartbroken from the ongoing string of violence plaguing the streets of Goldsboro.
She's also disappointed by the widespread shootings and other acts of violence across the nation and world.
The combined effect led Eason to organize a Goldsboro Unity Prayer Walk Saturday, starting at 9 a.m., at Dillard Middle School at 1101 S. Devereaux St.
"The biggest thing I want from this prayer walk is for everyone to come together as one for the same purpose and praying to the same God," Eason said. "We want whites. We want Hispanics and everyone to come."
Water will be provided at the event, which will start with a few short remarks from Eason, Mayor Chuck Allen and church leaders.
"Everything is going to be quick," Eason said. "We know it's going to be hot."
The walk is expected to take about an hour, starting at the middle school and continuing down the streets of Slocumb, Elm, Poplar and Olivia Lane before its end back at the school.
"This is not a rally," Eason said. "This is not a protest. It is not to blame anybody. We're praying that we can all come together and stop fighting one another. If we learn to love one another with God's love, this will stop a lot of chaos in this world, and that's the honest truth."
The location of the walk is in the center of where shootings have taken place in recent weeks. It's also near the same location of a street revival taking place this week, in response to the local violence.
"That's just a bad area," Eason said. "Crime happens in that area. We want to go where these crimes are taking place, so we can pray those things out."
Eason expects 100 to 150 people at the prayer walk and hopes for a diverse crowd.
"We don't want anyone to be intimidated by the area," she said. "We're strong in numbers. We have elderly people living there. We have children living there, and they should not be scared to live there."
The loss of lives in recent shootings in the city has hit close to home for Eason, as well as others who knew Atiya Maddox, a 19-year-old girl who was fatally shot Friday near the intersection of Olivia Lane and Slaughter Street. Maddox was caught in the crossfire as unidentified shooters took shots at each other from two vehicles near the intersection.
A vigil was held for Maddox at Eason's church, Walking by Faith Ministries, a place where Eason saw Maddox on a weekly basis.
"She was a faithful member, a loving girl," Eason said. "Her life to be taken from this is senseless."
Several churches have also banned together this week and are holding a street revival near the intersection of Slocumb Street and Olivia Lane, near the area of the shootings.
The Unity Prayer Walk is planned to include prayers for the community, local officials, police as well as the nation and the world, Eason said.
"We're praying for the families who have lost loved ones from the senseless killings," she said. "We're praying about the killings, the bloodshed, the unsolved murders, the gang-related activity, drugs and everybody.
"We're praying for peace. We're praying for our children, our generation, and that people understand that all lives matter. To me, all lives matter because all lives have a soul."