Pre-Dawn Service Honors the Maafa

In order to bring peace to the community and stop youth violence, the Freedom Church, Village of Hope and the People's Institute Northwest are gathering before sunrise on Saturday for the pre-dawn Maafa Commemoration.
Maafa is a Kiswahili word that means tragedy and describes the suffering our ancestors endured during the middle passage, slavery and the difficult times that followed.
Our youth are dying by violence and organizers say all of our generations have a responsibility to examine their roles in the spiritual, physical, and emotional health of our community. They are calling on people from all families, faiths, organizations and generations to prayer, fasting and repentance at the Maafa Commemoration at 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 24 at Madrona Beach, Lake Washington, 800 Lake Washington Blvd.
Organizers invite you to join the community as they stand on one accord to remember and thank God for our ancestors and the suffering and sacrifice they endured in the hope that we would not just survive but thrive. Please wear white if you choose to attend. For more information call 206-938-1023.