We Pray for Peace and Reconciliation!

They just kept on coming, waves and waves of people showed up at the green to pray for reconciliation and peace. They came because no one would have guessed that such a thing could happen in a place like this. They came because they were hurt and saddened and sorry. They came because they wanted to say no. They came to stand against terror and violence.

How could a murder happen in our quiet bedroom community? This is a place where the average home cost is at least $600,000 and most people have at least a college education. But happen it did. One Saturday afternoon a Hispanic restaurant worker sat down in a small downtown park. This small space between buildings is a nice place to sit with a cup of coffee read a book or just relax for a moment. It has nice park benches and a fountain that make it peaceful. But on July 17, the peace was disturb.

He probably sat down to rest before he made his way home. Just a moment to get off his feet after washing dishes all day.  A moment respite, perhaps that's all he wanted. Kids came into the park; teenagers, a crowd of them came laughing, possibly joking and acting silly. Then one of them put a shirt over the workers head and another pummeled him. He was found unconscious and taken to the hospital where he was robbed of his pay. He died three days later.

What turned a group of teenagers into killers? What turned a hospital worker into a thief? Why did this man have to die? What will happen to this nice suburban community? We don't know; but the Summit Interfaith Clergy Council organized this march to the Summit Green from City Hall, pass the Promenade to say that this is a city that will stand for peace in the midst of such violence.
Many who came brought flowers to place at the site of this horrendous crime.  On July 28, the Clergy Council came together with residents, police, friends, citizens and city officials to read words of peace and reconciliation and to pray. We came to tell the family of Abelino Maziniego that we are sorry and to stand with them in their sorrow. We came to promise this immigrant family the support of a community that comes from so many places across the globe but calls this place home. We came to say no more and with God's help to make sure nothing like this happens here again.  Many who came brought flowers to place at the site of this horrendous crime. They brought flowers to reclaim this space as a place of peace and beauty.

While the crowds are no longer gathered we pray for peace and reconciliation for a community that has been hurt. Will you pray with us?