OAKLANDERS' PEACEFUL COUNTER TO VIOLENCE

Group Sees Local Issues Reflected Globally

In the chilly, predawn fog, a group of 18 Oakland residents gathered today
at Lake Merritt to commemorate the attacks by holding hands and praying at
5:46 a.m., then taking a short walk in the park.

Unlike other formal events, there were no signs. No banners. No flowers.
Participants just held hands and took turns leading the group in prayers.
They prayed for the dead. They prayed for loved ones of terror victims.
They even prayed for the souls of terrorists, asking God to lead them on a
less destructive path.

The group of friends and acquaintances all met at local African American
churches. They originally came together to help young people in their
community avoid gang violence in Oakland.

But over time they grew to see a tragic connection between victims of
violence -- whether it's political terrorism on the East Coast or fights
over drug turf in East Oakland.

"Whether you kill for a holy war or a drug war, you are still a killer,"
Margie Brooks said. "You still kill innocent people and you break the
hearts of their families. I think God will judge them all the same way."

Brooks said that it's easy to condemn violence -- anywhere in the world --
but it's much tougher to change the thinking and calm the anger that leads
young men to violence.

The group, which included retirees and young professionals, drew on their
faith in God for strength.

"If everybody lived by the Golden Rule -- and never treated another person
worse than they wanted to be treated -- we wouldn't have suicide bombers or
drive-by shootings," Calvin Young said.

Brooks, Young and others in their group said that other than the morning
memorial service, they were avoiding other events and media "year-after"
coverage. Their sentiments were shared by other Oakland residents walking
in Lake Merritt or working downtown.

"I usually listen to the news in the morning but it's too depressing now,"
said Eddie Jones, an Oakland resident who travels the Bay Area repairing
security cameras. "Even the music stations were depressing. The only thing
I could do was listen to jazz."