Church leaders hold rally to end violence in Columbia neighborhoods

Church leaders Friday kicked off a campaign to end violence in Columbia’s neighborhoods.

“There’s people living in the community that feel like there’s no help for them and they feel like they’re in a prison in their own neighborhood, scared to come out of their house,” said Bishop Lorenzo Lawson, co-founder of the Columbia Coalition Against Violence.

Church leaders and members of the community are hitting the streets in central Columbia, trying to raise more attention to a recent spike in crime.

They just started Friday afternoon at Sexton and Grand Ave. in the parking lot of the Boys and Girls Club.

Friday, organizers said they’re holding rallies every week to show their support no matter what.

“We want them to know they’re not by themselves, but we also want the young people and the people who are committing these types of crimes to know that we’re going to be there, and we’re going to hold them accountable,” said Lawson.

The spot where they’re meeting is only 3 blocks from the scene of a triple shooting just last month.