Stop the Violence Back to School Rally will feature former gangsta rapper as guest speaker
A former gangsta rapper who did time in prison for robbery will deliver a message about making good decisions at the 2024 Stop the Violence Back to School Rally in Gainesville.
It will be held July 27 at the Santa Fe College gym at 3000 NW 83rd St., with doors opening at 9 a.m., with the event officially being held from 10 a.m.-noon, said Karl “The Rev.” Anderson, founder and longtime organizer of the rally.
“I’m pretty excited about our speaker, Project Pat, who was affiliated with Three 6 Mafia, one of the pioneers of Southern rap,” Anderson said. “He came out of prison and got himself straight and started a prison ministry.”
Born Patrick Earl Houston, Project Pat, 51, is the older brother of Juicy J, co-founder of Three 6 Mafia, a Memphis-based gangsta rap group.
Stop violence: 'Stop the Violence' rally turns 20
This will be the Silver Anniversary of the rally that began 25 years ago when Anderson decided to address preventing violence in schools by organizing the event after the proliferation of gun violence in schools after the Columbine High School Massacre in Colorado on April 20, 1999, that resulted in the shooting deaths of 12 students and one teacher, and 21 other people being injured by gunshots, according to official reports.
“I’m grateful for the fact that we have been around all of these years with a passion and concern for the safety of our
children and preventing violence in the community,” said Anderson, who founded People Against Violence Enterprises Inc. (P.A.V.E.).
Five thousand free backpacks filled with school supplies will be given away at the rally, and students must be present to get a backpack, Anderson said. Though the free backpacks are an important part of the rally, they are not the most important part of the rally, Anderson said.
“It’s not just about the free backpacks,” Anderson said. “The most important thing about the rally is the message of peace and preventing violence in schools and the community.”
The overriding message at the event will be to make sure students and those attending the event understand that there are consequences for the decisions they make in life.
“A decision now leads to a consequence later,” Anderson said. “We will be talking about decisions this year. It is important to us that the students learn about preventing violence.”
The rally first began at the King Center in northeast Gainesville with the giving away of 100 backpacks provided by Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, who has partnered with P.A.V.E. since the beginning of the rally, which has also been held at Citizens Field, Alachua County Fairgrounds and the Stephen C. O’Connell Center of the University of Florida campus. It has been held at SF College since 2009, Anderson said.
Rides to the rally will again be provided by school buses from the Alachua County Public School District by calling 352-505-6839, Anderson said.
The Alachua County Health Department will be present to provide any immunizations students need for school, not just for incoming kindergarteners, but also for seventh-graders and students of any grade who will be entering a Florida school for the first time, said Jackie Johnson, spokesperson for the school district.
“The Rally is always a great opportunity for the district to share important back to school information with families,” Johnson said. “We'll have calendars, links to school supply lists, information about our food service programs and much more. We'll also let families know how they can access a variety of free services they may not be aware are available through the district, including mental health counseling for their children and one-on-one coaching for parents.”
Anderson emphasized the importance of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the rally.
“We’ve been paving the way for a more peaceful community for our children,” Anderson said. “This is a year of celebration, and I’d like to thank all of our peace partners who have been with us throughout the years.”
The rally has provided about 150,000 backpacks to students throughout the years, Anderson said, adding that some people who were children when the rally started now bring their grandchildren to the rally.
“We are grateful to still be top of mind with people in the community,” Anderson said. “God always shows me a sign that we need to keep this going.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Making good decisions will be focus of Back to School Rally in G'ville
