ENGLEWOOD — Young people from the neighborhood — representing at least eight different gangs — will come together for a weeklong peace tournament from Aug. 10-15.
Pastor Pervis Thomas of the New Canaanland Church Family, 5957 S. Peoria, said the 8th Annual Englewood Basketball Peace Tournament stops the violence and brings young men from other gangs together.
The first 16 teams to show up at his church between Aug. 2 and Aug. 9 will receive free jerseys. The tournament kicks off at 4 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the Nicholson School lot, 6006 S. Peoria. There will be food and music, and the entire community is invited.
"I get gangbangers, thugs, everybody from the neighborhood comes to the park," Thomas said.
He said players come from a 16-block radius and on average, represent eight different gangs.
"When they're here, they take their frustration out on that court," Thomas said.
He said after the first year, people kept asking if he would do it again.
He said that young men have told him that playing in the game has kept them from killing people.
"They say, 'I had thoughts of killing this guy, but now we're friends.' People say, 'I used to hate that guy because he shot me.'"
"They come together under the umbrella of peace."
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