Nov 2, 2009 6:21 pm US/Pacific
Vigil Held Outside Richmond High Over Gang Rape
RICHMOND (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
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Police cars sit parked outside Richmond High School.
AP
The recent gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside Richmond High School's homecoming dance has brought communities throughout the nation together in speaking out against the attack, including faith-based communities in the Bay Area.
A coalition of faith leaders from throughout the Bay Area held a prayer vigil outside the school Monday afternoon.
"This is the faith community's way of demonstrating our love and support for the young lady as well as her family," said the Rev. Andre Shumake, president of the Richmond Improvement Association, who organized Monday's event along with the Oakland Baptist Ministers Union.
Clergy from churches across denominational lines in Richmond, Oakland, San Francisco and Vallejo participated.
The faith leaders called for an increase in volunteers at campuses throughout the district and for the schools to teach about the concept of respect.
Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus and West Contra Costa Unified School District Superintendent Bruce Harter also attended the event in which participants prayed for the victim and her family.
"We're praying ... for the alleged perpetrators as well because they need prayer," he said. "The young people who, for whatever reason, feel that it's OK to do that kind of thing to a young lady."
The Rev. Shumake graduated from Richmond High School in 1976. He said he doesn't think something like this could have happened three decades ago.
"I believe back then you would have had someone who would have at least tried to stop it because we were more connected during that time period, we were more engaged with each other," he said.
The case has garnered national attention, in part because of police reports that many people stood by watching the assault for more than two hours before someone finally called police.
Shumake said part of the problem is that when something goes wrong in a group setting, individuals don't feel as much of a burden to take responsibility.
"They don't make that call because they believe that somebody in their group is going to do the right thing," he said.
One thing that will help, Shumake said, is for parents to get involved in their kids' schools.
When Shumake was in school, he said, there was one mother who was vigilant in making sure kids stayed out of trouble.
"She was such a strong force for us in that we knew we couldn't act up because she lived in the community, and if we did so she would get back and tell our parents," he said.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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