The Game, 36, took to his Instagram to publicize the “Time To Unite: United Hoods + Gangs Nation” meeting in honor of him and Snoop, 44, on July 14.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) – An unlikely assembly of gang members, Los Angeles leaders and hip-hop luminaries gathered for a summit amid a tense national mood after several incidents of high-profile violence.
Current gang members, grizzled veterans, and other important community figures -including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti- spoke at the event as well. Beck said the meeting was a “great first step” in the right direction toward curbing violence, especially considering the fatal shootings of three law enforcement officers Sunday morning in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Associated Press reports Game – who was moved to start the rally to make a safer world for his 5-year-old daughter – was almost in tears as he spoke about the loss of a former gang member he grew up with in foster care in Compton.
The forum concluded with the signing of a cease-fire between the two gangs, with the conditions of the document stating that those accountable to it would not “abuse children”, “use the B word to describe any black sister” or “raise my hand with a knife or gun to beat, cut or shoot” for any reason except in the name of “self-defense”.
“I came out here because I feel like the change starts inside”, he said.
With both Snoop Dogg and The Game having past ties to the Crips and the Bloods respectively, the combination of their efforts towards making real and positive change is exactly the kind of leadership so desperately needed in America in these turbulent times.
CBS2’s Greg Mills attended the gang summit, also a plea for people to stop killing each other.
Veteran gang interventionist Alex Sanchez urged unity between Latino and black community members. Outside, the crowd was peaceful and water was being handed out to help battle the heat.
Entertainers at the event included radio personality Big Boy, singer will.i.am and rappers Shorty, Problem and Bad Lucc.
The rapper, who grew up as Jayceon Terrell Taylor in nearby Compton, said he hoped the summit would inspire men to have a “much-needed conversation” about their influence on young people and how to be better role models. Wanting to create “dialogue” in wake of the recent shootings, the meeting attracted hundreds of people, including will.i.am and the city’s police chief. “So you know peace and love and prayers go out to those families, but that’s a tragedy as well as all lives”. Because the sad truth that no one wants to face is, before we can get OUR LIVES TO MATTER to anyone else… “We want everybody get on the bus”.
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Snoop and The Game led by example the morning after the Dallas murders by leading a peace rally in Los Angeles to ease growing tensions between the black community and local police officials, while the Dreams hitmaker later encouraged rival gang members to come together and unite for the cause.
