Anti-Violence Rally: ‘I Never Know Which Saturday There’s Going To Be A Funeral’

Pastor James G. Evans III of Norton Avenue Baptist Church in Bristol Township is tired of conducting funerals for parishioners who died due to violence. 

Last Sunday, Evans along with about 100 people of all faiths marched from the Norton Avenue church, down Green Lane to a service at the House of Prayer. Chants of “stop the violence” echoed through the streets as the group called for an end to gun violence.

“We can act like it ain’t happen and doing funerals – or we can do something about it,” he said.

Evans said he’s conducted several funerals over the past few years for victims of gun violence, some from Bristol Township and some from outside the area.

Cathy Leary of the BuxMont Coalition for Peace said the rally was supported by passersby and neighbors who voiced their support and honked as the group walked down Green Lane with a police escort.

Martha Miller, Movita Johnson-Harrell of The Charles Foundation, Shira Goodman of CeaseFirePA spoke to the gathered crowd along with local family of local victims. Several Bristol Township Council members marched along with school board members.

“About 100 people showed up, but I’m disappointed considering how much blood has been in our streets,” Evans said.

The pastor of the church said he does not watch television shows like “Scandal” or “Empire” because of the violence that is portrayed. 

“I’ve lived this reality,” he said. “I never know which Saturday there’s going to be a funeral.”

According to statistics from the FBI and Acting Bristol Township Chief of Police Sgt. Ralph Johnson, there have been three homicides by firearm in the township since 2012. Federal crime data shows much higher murder rates in years past, with a peak of 8.6 per 100,000 residents in 1998.

Leary said the BuxMont Coalition for Peace will be working with groups to plan more events and discussions on how to curb violence in Lower Bucks County.

Going forward, Evans, a former member of the military, said the community needs to come together to form an action plan to stem the violence in Bristol Township and beyond.

“I’m not coming to get their guns, but are we complacent to watch people die?”