Cleveland is the city where we come from so run! Run!
Violence has riddled our city for the past couple of years. We’re not new to hearing news story after news story, reading Social Media post after Social Media posts of someone/people being shot. The Black community has been greatly affected with senseless violence. Between fighting/killing each other to being killed by police, things have taken a turn for the worse!
Turn on the TV, open your Apps and you’re numbed by the news of another Black man killed at the hands of the police…Another…then Another…!! Why? Why are we targets?
Protests ensue, shots ring out and the latest news update: Cops Killed in Dallas!
Circle the City with Love…what…Love…?
The mission of Circle the City with Love – Cleveland 2016 was to embody the power of love that brings peace and justice to our city, our country and our world through the simple act of holding hands and standing together as one in intentional silence at an important moment in our history.
The idea for this event originated with Sister Rita Petruziello, inspired by the song
“Circle the City with Love.”
As the founding director of River’s Edge in Cleveland , a Congregation of St Joseph sponsored ministry,
Sister Rita wanted to demonstrate the ministry’s mission of “personal and societal transformation so that all life will thrive.”
July 17, 2016 was 85 degrees of stifling humidity; over 1k of us stood in our diverse glory holding hands on Hope Memorial Bridge for 30 mins in silence, in the name of Love. Our Human chain was fueled with bagels stuffed with Humus and Cucumbers, warm bottles of water and sprays of sunscreen glistened off of our sunbathed limbs. We stood for Humanity, Hope, injustice, Peace, and Love. Standing in silence with my family, 216 The Beat Family and strangers turned family, felt more powerful than I imagined.
The blow-horns blared signaling the end of our Stand for Love…it ended with hugs, handshakes and a few tears.
We stood and continue to stand for Love!
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