LOS ANGELES - Media in southern Los Angeles County have often reported conflict between Latinos and Blacks, but today 35 youths carried a banner in the Long Beach Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade on 16 January specifically to promote peace and to show that the majority of youth want peace and are willing to do something to make peace between the races come true.
“I’m trying to smash the statistics that Black and Brown communities don’t get along,” said Luis Guerrero, a youth from Wilmington. “You can see all these youth helping us. There are signs right here that there is a big chance for peace.”
Narconon spokesperson Teddy Chambers who worked with the youth to organize for today’s march acknowleged in particular Luis Guerrero and Angela Flores (from Long Beach). These and other young people worked with other adult volunteers, Danny Flores and Ruben Vazquez, to bring youth in from 10 different cities, including besides Long Beach and Los Angeles Hawaiian Gardens, Compton, Lakewood, Wilmington, Artesia, Inglewood, Culver City, and Carson.
Other sponsoring groups were SoCal Foster Care Mentoring Network and The Positive Art of Hip Hop. One young girl representing Dreamcatcher Foundation, a foster care program, said, “This is a tribute to Martin Luther King. He plays a big part in our having the courage to come together as Black and Brown and just have some harmony and peace.”
Sporting shirts with an artistic, distinctly styled logo, designed by the youth themselves, the young friends marched from 7th and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to MLK Jr. Park. Ruben Vazgquez praised the kids: “They made this beautiful sign all together, working as one. It’s nice to see this.”
Narconon supports youth events such as this all across the United States and the world to support drug-free, ethical, and peaceful communities. Narconon centers across the United States are participating in similar events including in Georgia and Oklahoma.
You can find more information about the Narconon drug education and community awareness events.
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