Clergy in North Texas are standing up to organize against youth violence amid a rash of multiple threats at different school districts across the metroplex.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, communities have been on edge since the beginning of the school year, with law enforcement scrambling to determine whether each threat is credible. Affected school districts include Duncanville ISD, Carroll ISD, and Dallas ISD, among others.
In addition to the threats, violent incidents on and off campus have spurred local pastors into action.
Here is some of what NBC 5 DFW reported on how faith leaders are coming together to try to mitigate the problem:
Amid fears of school violence felt across Dallas-Fort Worth, faith leaders in DeSoto have a coalition of pastors mobilizing to keep the peace.
“We’re giving an invitation to everyone in our community and abroad because this is not just a DeSoto issue, but it’s impacting DeSoto,” said Pastor Marcus King of Disciple Central Community Church.
The invitation is to learn, to lead and to live, said the chair of the DeSoto Pastor’s Coalition.
The group, active since 2017, is mobilizing amid recent threats of violence among youth in and around Dallas County’s Southern sector.
“There are several threats most online, they are finding some of the perpetrators and they are being disciplined,” said King based on information he’s been able to gather.
There’s concern not only tied to online threats but also recent gun violence involving high school students in the region.
The shooting death last Friday night of Dallas Kimball High School football player, David Washington, while not connected to DeSoto, has shaken the community.
“What affects one affects all,” said King.