The 22nd is a day of peace and healing for Detroit

DETROIT, Mich. (WXYZ) - Do you know what the 22nd of every month is in the City of Detroit?  It is called ‘Thou Shall Not Kill’ day.

Detroit City Council signed a resolution two years ago recognizing the day as a no violence day.  The group that heads the movement is led by Pastor Ovella Andreas.

“Even our funeral directors are tired of burying our children,” said Pastor Ovella.

She said the community is tired of all the senseless violence that has been happening in the city.  The 22nd of every month is supposed to be a day where people put their differences aside and stop killing one another.  Pastor Ovella said they hope that if people are conscience of what is going on for one day, in hopes that it will lead to stop the violence every other day as well.

“We are saying put down the gun.  Stop the violence,” said Pastor Ovella.  She goes out with groups and hands out door knob hangers that say ‘Stop the Violence’ and ‘Honor the Code’.

When two teenagers were killed on the service drive of the Southfield Freeway last week, she had been at Crime Stoppers gathering information for their event tomorrow.  She read a poem for 7 Action News that she found called ‘Must We Kill’.  The poem was written by a fifth grader after someone shot and killed his friend so they could have his leather jacket.  That fifth grader was Robert Hale.  Someone shot and killed the Detroit man in 2009 when he was 31-years-old.  His murder is still unsolved.

How many cities do you know that have a ‘Thou Shall Not Kill’ day?

Tomorrow there is a special event to celebrate the citywide day of peace and healing.  Pastor Ovella will be hosting it with The United Communities of America.

The event takes place at Fellowship Chapel Church at 6pm, located at 7707 West Outer Drive.