PHILADELPHIA PA, January 14, 2008 – Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and the Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr., former Mayor of Philadelphia, today joined with the Corporation for National and Community Service and local anti-violence organizations to launch “40 Days of Nonviolence: Building the Beloved Community.”

The initiative, organized nationwide by the Corporation for National and Community Service to begin with the Martin Luther King Day of Service 2008, honors Dr. King’s vision of building a “beloved community” of peace and brotherhood, and marks the 40th year since his assassination.

“What a tribute to his memory it would be if, person by person, city by city, all across this land, people said, I’m going to commit myself to what Dr. King lived for, and essentially died for. . . that we could solve our differences in a nonviolent way,” Dr. Goode said.

He urged Philadelphians to sign and observe the King Center “Pledge of Nonviolence” during a press conference held at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Congressman Fattah said, “I’ve been on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King lost his life. The centerpiece of his life was nonviolence. We are going to be asking the Philadelphia community to become involved in (volunteer) organizations. Volunteer your talent, your time, your treasure to this goal, and commemorate the life of Dr. King in a way that is appropriate to his life’s work.”

“Building the Beloved Community” spotlights more than 40 community organizations, agencies and programs that will spearhead the effort to “boycott violence” for 40 days, beginning with the Day of Service, on Jan. 21, and ending on Feb. 29.
“The call this morning, for this year, and in years to come is for this day of service to extend to at least 40 days of nonviolence activities, and then perhaps to 365 days of nonviolence activities,” said Dr. Goode.

Today marks the nationwide kickoff for “40 Days of Nonviolence” as part of 2008 King Day observances, according to Jonathan Williams, Corporation for National and Community Service director of corporate relations. He said it is designed to build on the 50-state success of the Day of Service.

Congressman Fattah praised grassroots organizations that are fighting to stop the violence at the neighborhood level, and urged Philadelphians to join their efforts. He said. “We’re going to be saluting and recruiting and acknowledging the work of some 40 organizations. So many organizations are doing so much. Join these groups, volunteer your time and energy.”

E. Steven Collins of Radio One, a major supporter and promoter of the nonviolence initiative, announced that the next Guns for Guns exchange will be conducted on King Day, Monday January 21, at the Columbia YMCA in North Philadelphia. Details will be announced later this week. Citizens are asked to turn over any firearm and receive vouchers for food or other goods. 

Dr. Steven M. Altschuler, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital, pointed out, “Violence is the leading cause of death among children.” Dr. Joel Fein of Children’s Hospital, director and principal investigator for the Philadelphia Collaborative Violence Prevention Center, described the work of the Collaborative, which includes Penn, Temple and Drexel Universities, in developing innovative strategies to death with violence as a public health crisis.

“Forty Messages of Peace for 40 Days of Nonviolence” from Dr. King, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, rock star Bono and others were also released as part of the initiative.

View and Print the King Center “Pledge of Nonviolence”

***

NOTE: Contact this office or Public/Private Ventures, www.ppv.org for copies of the King Center Pledge of Nonviolence, “40 Messages of Peace for 40 Days of Nonviolence” and a list of participating community organizations. Or call 215-557-4412.

To participate in or learn about the Martin Luther King Day of Service in the Philadelphia area on January 21, see www.mlkdayofservice.org .