Members of the B.M.C. Durfee High School Peaceful Coalition, the Street Outreach program, Team FRESH and the Fall River Housing Authority Family and Youth Services held a Peace Walk event in downtown Fall River on June24, 2009. The event began with remarks by Fall River Mayor Robert Correia, Police Chief John M. Souza, assistant school superintendent Victor Capellan, Housing Authority director of field operations James Comer, and Peaceful Coalition student advisors Tom Khoury and Paul Leite. Each speaker emphasized the importance of young people working to make the coming summer a peaceful one by declining to be involved in violent acts. "It takes more courage to refuse to respond violently than it does to get involved in violence," stated Mayor Correia. The Police Department will be working closely with staff from the Shannon Initiative Street Outreach Program and the Housing Authority to keep conflicts from erupting into violence over the summer. Community Development Recreation will open their facility for basketball, break dancing and other activities over the summer. Click here for the Herald News article about the event. For more information about the Peaceful Coalition, contact student advisor Paul Leite at 508-235-2694.
 

 (Top row) Kiara Escalera and Maria Soares applaud speaker Paul Leite, Chief Souza, Assistant Superintendent Victor Capellan and others during the rally held at the Veterans' Memorial Auditorium on Bank Street. (Middle row, left) Steven Tith, Michael Nhem and Danny Buth carry the Community Development Recreation banner in front of Government Center. (Middle row, center) Jordan Medeiros and Loco carry the Peaceful Coalition as Tom Khoury, Paul Leite and Christian McCloskey walk behind. (Bottom row, left) Marchers carry placards as they walk past Government Center. (Bottom row, center) B-Boy Swizzy demonstrates his best moves as B-boy Limit watches along with the crowd. (Bottom row, right) Lauren Barboza and Kristina Carmo from Family Planning in Taunton applaud.