Kinsey resumes “Third Thursday” Initiative
Hosts press conference & peace walk
Rep. Stephen Kinsey May 19, 2023 | 4:47 PM
PHILADELPHIA, May 19 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., last night hosted a press conference and community peace walk in conjunction with the local police chaplains, at Belfield Recreation Center as part of the “Third Thursday Initiative” to address gun violence in northwest Philadelphia. This was the first Third Thursday event of 2023.
The “Third Thursday Initiative” was started last year by Kinsey and is done in partnership with local community advocates, students, non-profit organizations, elected officials, clergy, the PA State Police, 14th and 35th Police Districts, 14th and 35th Police District Chaplains, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, LaSalle University, the City of Philadelphia and community members.
At the peace marches, the group goes into neighborhoods throughout northwest Philadelphia that have been heavily impacted by gun violence and shares information and resources to assist individuals and families that have been impacted.
Kinsey stressed the importance of the community coming together.
“Gun violence is an issue that continues to take far too many lives from our community. To ensure that the northwest community is a safe place for folks to live, work, play and worship, it’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Kinsey said. “I started this initiative last year to bring the northwest community together so we could all work in unison with a focus on community. We will continue our efforts to combat this senseless violence.”
Video from yesterday’s event can be viewed here and photos here.
Kinsey’s Third Thursday events will be held on the third Thursday of every month throughout the summer and early fall.
Location for each month’s event will be announced by Kinsey in advance.