As concern about violence rises, clergy group urges Fourth of July revelers to celebrate safely

E-mail | Print | Comments () 06/28/2011 10:23 AM

Ten Point Coalition

One side of the card that will be distributed to encourage safer partying this weekend.

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By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

With the shooting of a toddler in Dorchester again raising alarms about street violence, the Reverend Jeffrey Brown, executive director of the Ten Point Coalition, said the organization is about to launch its “Season of Peace” initiative this weekend and called on people to be safe during the July 4th weekend, when violence can spark.

The organization is planning on releasing “holiday party cards” that will give tips on how to have a safe cookout or party.

Brown said they are printing 10,000 to 15,000 of the cards and organization members will be passing them out Thursday around Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester, concentrating on Dudley, Codman, and Mattapan squares.

The cards are intended for “anyone who is thinking about doing a cookout, anybody who is doing a party,” he said. “We’re trying to get them to think before they act.”

The cards tell people to party where they feel safe, avoid drinking heavily, and not make a pass at someone else’s partner, which can cause deadly tension.

“What happens generally in parties is that a lot of drama occurs when one person hits on another person’s girlfriend,” Brown said. “When that happens, drama escalates.”

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