MENNONITE AND CATHOLIC YOUTH MARCH AGAINST GANG VIOLENCE IN HONDURAS

by Marion Meyer 

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras -- While news of gang violence and death has 
dominated the headlines here, Mennonite and Catholic youth from what 
was once considered the country's most dangerous neighborhood, marched 
together under banners celebrating "peace with the risen Christ" and 
calling for an end to gang violence. 

The Aug. 31 march through Colonia López Arellano, which is located on 
the outskirts of San Pedro Sula, inspired hundreds of local residents 
to spontaneously join the procession as it moved through the 
neighborhood. 

The march took place in a national atmosphere of growing panic over 
gang violence and government policies that promote force and, many 
charge, justify human rights abuses to end this violence. 

On the morning of the march headlines in a local Sunday newspaper 
proclaimed, "Afternoon of Terror: 11 people died and 20 are injured in 
attack by gangs" -- although the identity of the attackers was 
actually unclear. The next day, rumors of gangs shootings at schools, 
which later proved to be false, threw the city into an uproar. 

Until four years ago, La López was wracked by gang warfare. The 
efforts of the Peace and Justice Project of the Honduran Mennonite 
Church to help youth leave gangs and find their place in the community 
has helped change that. It was the idea of a former gang member to 
hold the march. 

Five MCC workers participated in the march.  They joined the 300 
people assembled, some of whom were holding two large banners reading, 
"Let's build peace with the risen Christ." Each banner was carried by 
three ex-gang members. Prayers were said and the march began. 

People at the front of the march led in chanting prayers: "Yes to 
love, no to violence!" "Yes to peace, no to revenge!" "We want La López 
Arellano to be peaceful and harmonious!" 

As marchers passed through the neighborhood, people came out of their 
houses to watch and listen. What those at the front of the march did 
not realize is how many of them also joined the procession, MCC 
workers reported. Near the end of the march as the leaders came to the 
top of a hill, someone said, "turn around." When they looked down the 
hill they saw the street packed with people marching for peace, MCC 
workers said. 

By the time the group reached the community hall, where there was to 
be a prayer meeting for peace, the march had grown to about 800 
people. When the 500 chairs inside the building were filled, people 
remained outside to listen. The meeting opened with singing and 
scripture. The local Mennonite pastor and Catholic priest offered 
reflections on the words of Christ. 

The joint participation of their churches in the march reflected a new 
level of cooperation in La López between Protestant and Catholic 
churches.  Throughout most of Latin America Protestant-Catholic 
relationships are strained or even hostile. 

The youth of the two churches had jointly written a prayer reflecting 
the reality of their neighborhood, their history and an emerging peace 
theology. After invoking the name of Jesus, they told God their 
history and everyone gathered confessed: 

"Forgive us, Lord, for our indifference, because many times we have 
been deaf and blind to the injustices; because we have not valued the 
life that you have given us. We ask for forgiveness for the violence 
which we have provoked in our hearts, in our families and in our 
community. 

"Give us peace, the most precious gift of your hands. Help us to build 
that peace, first, in our own hearts, by doing your will. May we build 
this peace being sensitive to the pain of others, and seeing your holy 
face in that of others. 

"Do not allow us to immerse ourselves in the sea of selfishness. Make 
us strong and courageous builders of peace and freedom. All this we 
pray in the name of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, He who lives and 
reigns with you, in oneness with the Holy Spirit, and who is God now 
and forever. Amen." 

- 30 - 

Marion Meyer, MCC's emergency response coordinator in Central America 
and Mexico, is a member of Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship. She lives 
in La Ceiba, Honduras. 

MCC Photo available: Father José Canales, the Catholic parish priest 
in the López Arellano neighborhood of San Pedro Sula, holds a yellow 
sign with red letters that say, "Halt: Don't shoot your brother!" To 
his left (the viewer's right) is Pastor Elvin Villalobo, of the 
Mennonite church in La López. (Photo by Ricardo Torres) 

                                -30- 

mm19september2003 

---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
               Reprinting this article is encouraged. 
                      Please send clippings to 
                         MCC Communications 
                            P.O. Box 500 
                        Akron, PA  17501-0500 
----------------------------------------------------------------------