The Rev. Jerry Demmer of the Absolute Word Church in Five Points is focused on stopping the hate and disrespect that’s sparked violence across the nation in recent years.
Part of the problem, he believes, is a lack of connections between different communities, leaving people isolated in their own little circles.
“Whites don’t talk to blacks, blacks don’t talk to browns, and browns don’t talk to the LGBT community,” he said.
He’s putting together a panel for a community town hall meeting Saturday, with representatives from the black, white, Latino, LGBT and law enforcement communities.
The goal is to be proactive, not reactive, “before it hits our state and our community,” he said. “We believe that what has taken place in , ,and Baton Rouge is because we, as a community, don’t talk.”
Everyone is welcome, he said, regardless of nationality, religion or sexual orientation.
The community town hall meeting starts at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Absolute Word Church, 400 California St.
