In response to recent incidents of violent crime in the city—including three murders over a one-week period—the Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ is holding an emergency meeting this evening. The event, called “The Violence Must Stop,” starts at 6 p.m. at the church, at 35 Alden St. Spring of Hope’s pastor, the Rev. Talbert Swan II, is also the president of the Springfield NAACP.
Meanwhile, two letters to the editor in today’s Republican address the issue of crime and violence in the city, including one from a newcomer to the city who’s tired of being told that his family is “crazy” for moving to Springfield.
The writer, Nathaniel Gilmore III, notes that the crime rate in his newly adopted hometown is about the same as that in his previous city, Phoenix. “Based upon the daily TV news and newspapers, most of the crime seems to fall in certain areas of the city. Just like every other city in the world, people have to be aware of their surroundings and avoid high-crime areas,” he writes. “We are glad we moved to Springfield and like the city, the state and the New England Area. We have already joined a new church and other social organizations and are looking to doing volunteer work.”
In fact, Gilmore’s sole complaint about his new community is an aesthetic (and tongue-in-cheek) one: he doesn’t like the look of the front license plates required in Massachusetts.
