100+ turn out for anti-violence meeting in Grand Rapids | News

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Community members are taking the pledge to help stop the violence in Grand Rapids.

Despite the snow storm, more than 100 people filled Gerald R. Ford Middle School Thursday night for the latest Stop It meeting to push for peace.

Mayor George Heartwell was among the crowd, which broke up in groups to come up with ideas to curb the violence. They also signed a pledge to stand up against violence.

"It's probably the worst day of the year weather-wise but yet look at all the people that are here. It means they care about our community," says City Commissioner Walt Gutowski.

"GRPS can't do it by themselves-- they're making great strides, politicians can't do it by themselves. It really takes the schools, the politicians, the community, residents, non-profits, for profits to work together. And that's really how you get to this cultural change," says Darel Ross of LINC Community Revitalization Inc.

The next Stop It meeting will be A Conversation with Clergy on February 21.