Quantcast

Davis legacy of non-violence – Slain councilman inspires peace activists

Davis legacy of non-violence – Slain councilman inspires peace activists

Fighting violence with love…

Dozens of neighborhood crime fighters took to the streets last week to participate in a special Violence Peace Walk that not only demanded and end to street crime, but remembered the legacy of fallen Fort Greene City Councilmember James E. Davis.

Geoffrey Davis, the slain councilman’s brother, led the charge down Empire Boulevard on August 16 as he recited his siblings long held belief that violence in our streets would end if everyone learned to “love themselves.”

The march culminated in a rally outside of the James E. Davis Post Office, where participants re-dedicated themselves in the fight against crime and drugs as well as the continued quest to elevate the community’s self esteem.

Before becoming a City Councilmember, James E. Davis was a police officer who created the “Love Yourself: Stop the Violence” group with his brother. Davis claimed that the streets would calm down if people altered their attitudes about themselves.

During his tenure, James continued his crusade against violence as he “fought for citizen rights and rallied against unsavory political forces,” his brother Geoffrey said.

In 2003, Davis was gunned down in City Hall by an unhinged man who was planning to run against him.

Since his death, the Davis family has tried to keep the councilman’s message alive through the James E. Davis Foundation.