Kinsey hosts community peace prayer vigil

Honors mothers of murdered sons

Philadelphia House Delegation    July 24, 2023 | 10:06 AM

PHILADELPHIA, July 21 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., last night hosted a community prayer vigil in the East Germantown community. Kinsey hosted the Williams/Brister family who lost their 12-year-old son to gun violence, along with Ivory Bethune and Jeannine Shaw, who both lost young sons to gun violence. 

This peace prayer vigil was part of Kinsey’s “Third Thursday” Initiative, which he started in 2022 in efforts to making families and the community at large aware of the supports and resources available to them as our communities deal with the violence that has plagued them over the recent years.  

At last night’s event, Kinsey was joined by state Reps. Darisha Parker and Anthony Bellmon, along with Councilmembers Cindy Bass and Anthony Phillips. Also attending were his community partners, which included EMIR Healing Center, Chew & Chelten CDC, Men Who Care of Germantown, the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network, clergy, the Pennsylvania State Police, 14th and 35th Police Districts, 14th and 35th Police District Chaplains, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, LaSalle University, the City of Philadelphia and community members.     

“My heart goes out to the brave, strong mothers who were able to join me and speak up last night. As a father, my deepest condolences are with them during what is an unimaginable time they must be going through,” Kinsey said. “We cannot afford to see more mothers bury their sons at such a young age due to senseless violence. As a community, we cannot give up in this fight to keep our community safe.”