East London Church Anti-Violence Event to Feature Gee Walker

An East London church has organised a special one-day event to promote peace which will take place in East London this month and feature Gee Walker, the mother of murdered teenager Anthony Walker.

The Arc church in Forest Gate, East London, is ensuring that the murder of former member Charlotte Polius in April 2005 and other young people whose lives have been cut short by mindless killing has not been in vain by staging 'Stop The Violence'.

Charlotte was just 15 when she was stabbed to death by a teenage girl at a party in Ilford in April 2005. The killing made headline news across the UK and in the aftermath of Charlotte's death, her minister, Pastor Peter Nembhard promised that The Arc would play a major role in combating violence in Britain. The Stop The Violence event is a response to that pledge.

Special guests at this community event will include Gee Walker, a committed Christian who has inspired many with her dignified response to the murder of her son Anthony Walker, who was killed with an axe in July 2005. She will share how the murder of her son has impacted her faith, life and family and inspired her to tell young people to eschew violence.

Stop The Violence will also include a concert featuring young London based artists. A specially commissioned film, directed by young people and with an anti violence message, will have its screen debut, and there will be a special 15 minute dramatisation.

Pastor Nembhard, leader of The Arc and one of the minds behind Stop The Violence commented, "Our church had a rude awakening when Charlotte died. We came face to face with the devastation acts of violence cause and decided we didn't want to sit on the sidelines anymore.

"Our church has made a decision to be actively involved in changing the attitudes that makes a young person feel it's alright to carry a knife or gun, inflict violence upon a fellow human being and behave in an anti-social manner."

"Since Charlotte's death, some members of The ARC teen church have been victims of bullying, one member was stabbed, and another one beaten up. We are taking a stand against violence in our local community and wider society with this event.

"We hope it will give people a greater understanding of the pain and anguish experienced by those whose loved ones are murdered and that they will learn how they can contribute to building a more peaceful society."