North Lawndale Music Fest Unites Thousands for One Cause

The Lawndale Mass Choir which is made up of an ensemble of choirs from North Lawndale area churches performs at the festival. Photo courtesy of Pastor Marvin Hunter
The Lawndale Mass Choir which is made up of an ensemble of choirs from North Lawndale area churches performs at the festival. Photo courtesy of Pastor Marvin Hunter

North Lawndale Music Fest Unites Thousands for One Cause

By Monique Smith

There are often news reports that have shown us when there is a rise in temperature in the city of Chicago, there is also a rise in violent activity.

But on this warm summer day, July 17th in Franklin Park on 4320 W. 15th Street, more than 2,000 people gathered peacefully to listen to music performed by groups like the Delphonics, international artist Lazer Lloyd of Israel and the great gospel group, The Victory Travelers, all for one reason -- to unite the people of Chicago and all over the world in an effort to stop the violence.

Our communities are being plagued by violence both on foreign soil and here in the United States. Since the start of July, there have been police shootings of two unarmed black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, an attack on police in Dallas, Texas where five police officers died as a result of their injuries. Most recently, a lone gunman identified as an exmarine by the name of Gavin Long, reportedly ambushed Baton Rouge police officers resulting in the injury of three officers and the death of three others.

The event caled, ‘Grace at Jerusalem: Stop The Violence Roots Festival’ was largely organized and sponsored by Pastor Marvin G. Hunter of Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Lawndale and The Lawndale Black Chamber of Commerce. A host of others like musician and drummer Kenny Coleman, who is from the Lawndale community, also participated in making the event a success.

North Lawndale is a Chicago community that has experienced its fair share of violence, from home invasions and robberies to murder. “With the increased violence taking place in Lawndale and across the city, we are using music as a tool to bring people together, to heal the fears that result from so much gun violence,” said Rev. Hunter.

Hunter said the intention of the event was to, “‘spread the seeds of love and respect for one another.” Hunter is the greatuncle of 17 year-old Laquan McDonald. Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, 38, was suspended without pay or benefits after being charged last fall with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of McDonald.

Pastor Hunter has been working in the community to bring about peace and has hosted the The Roots Festival in Lawndale for the last five years and he spoke on how it became the ‘Grace at Jerusalem Stop The Violence Roots Festival.’

“I was working on a album and Kenny Coleman who is a musician and music producer were talking about music and he introduced me to Lazer Lloyd who talked about the violence going on in Israel. I then participated in the Annual Israeli Jazz and World Music Festival back in May.”

“I started going out into the community and talking with residents and different members of the rival gangs here in Lawndale and I asked them if we could come together and agree to have a two week cease fire, no shootings or killings for two weeks,” said Rev. Hunter. “They agreed and for two weeks we had no incidents of violence so then I was like ‘Ok Lord’ what do I do next? How can I keep this going?”

Hunter said he asked them to all come out to the music festival and brings their families. “They agreed and they came, it was wonderful. We didn’t have one incident or argument.” As the great uncle of LaQuan McDonald, Hunter also acknowledges the contention between residents and police charged with keeping the community safe.

“Historically we’ve had a problem with the police, how they view us, treat us and respect us, but I want to change that. I invited the 10th & 11th District Police Departments to come out and participate in a community basketball game,” he said.

Officers from both districts participated in a friendly game of basketball, the Lawndale Community team won. A host of local political leaders also came out to support the festival like Cook County Board of Commissioners, Toni Preckwinkle.

Hunter says he thanked Preckwinkle for attending, adding he will continue to use music as a way to heal his community. “Music is like medicine for the soul,” Hunter said.

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