Andy Ross Photo
Pastor Donald Morris and Eugene Brunson, chairman of the CCC.
Bullhorn in hand, Pastor Donald Morris led 15 other pastors on a march through the streets of Newhallville Saturday afternoon, despite the hard rains and high winds that stormed across New Haven. It was the latest effort of the Promise Land Project, a community outreach program aimed at stemming the tide of violence in the neighborhood.
The march began at the Dee Dee’s Dance School building on Dixwell Avenue and followed a route all the way to the front steps of Bassett School. Each member of the clergy used the bullhorn to broadcast a plea to the neighborhood to stop the violence and turn to God for salvation and guidance.
Morris is the executive director of the Christian Community Commission, the group responsible for launching the campaign against violence. In recent weeks the group has attracted a lot of attention from both the media and the general public, and community leaders are determined to keep getting the coalition’s “stop the violence” message out into the “Promise Land” of Newhallville.
The program offers free resources, including family counseling, agency referrals, property beautification, youth activities, and prayer.
In his message, Morris said that although the group was small in number, he was confident that his voice and those of the other ministers were reaching many hearts and souls in need of prayer and positive change.
“We march today in the wind and rain and with a strong showing of support from area churches. We will continue to make our presence and concern for this neighborhood known,” Morris said. “If I had only one other pastor with me, we would still have marched, and if it were a nor’easter storm outside, we would still have marched. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will stop us from getting our message to those who are, have been, or will be responsible for any kind of crime in new this community.”
The next Promise Land march is planned for May 15 and will begin at Bassett.
“This time we are asking all of the pastors to bring their entire congregations and have hundreds of people marching to support our message of peace and non-violence,” Morris said.
Among the organization’s planned activities for the youth this summer are bike riding and fishing in the afternoons. The organization needs more bikes and fishing poles for the excursions. If you’re interested in donating a bike or fishing equipment, contact Ross at 203 – 624-9228.