Stop drugs, violence rally returns to park

POTTSTOWN >> The heat couldn’t slow down Pottstown group determined to end drugs and violence.

On Saturday, a small but passionate group of community members got together in Riverfront Park to hold their 11th event in resistance to drugs and violence in the borough.

The Stop the Drugs Stop the Violence Crusade is an annual prayercentric community event hosted by Harris Family Ministries to bring awareness and solutions to the drug and violence issues many people face.

“We’re still out here fighting the drug addiction and we keep trying to bring awareness and shake the cages to make people realize we can make a change if we all work hard to do it,” said Rev. Georgiana Harris with Harris Family Ministries.

The group included not only community members but area organizations as well. Representatives from the Montgomery County Public Defenders Office, Narcotics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery. Guests enjoyed music, food and addresses from guest speakers about how faith can make a difference in their communities.

“My son was caught up in addiction and I feel if I keep fighting for somebody else I’m going to win the victory for him,” said Harris. “Being the mother of a child who has been in addiction is very painful. I don’t want another mother to ever feel the pain that I’ve felt, that my family’s felt because

The Stop the Drugs Stop the Violence rally held in Riverfront Park Saturday offered guests a variety of food, music and information.

Josiah and Evan Jackson perform a song for the crowd at Riverfront Park Saturday. Community members got together for the 11th annual Stop the Drugs Stop the Violence rally in Pottstown.

might not do the crusades anymore because as you can see the crowds are dwindling but we’re still going to be out here doing something. We’re not going to stop. It’s worth being out here in the heat.

of that addiction. When your phone rings late at night, your heart jumps because you don’t know what it’s going to be.” Harris said that although the crowd was small she still feels the need to keep fighting to end addictions and violence. “We put a little dent in but we want to just cut the snake’s head off so to speak,” said Harris. “We

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Valerie Jackson speaks to the group at Riverfront Park Saturday during the annual Stop the Drugs Stop the Violence rally.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Guests at Riverfront Park heard from a number of guest speakers Saturday during the Stop the Drugs Stop the Violence Rally held by Harris Family Ministries.