[Applause] so there is a pastor in Baltimore
so there is a pastor in Baltimore
so there is a pastor in Baltimore his name is Michael Phillips he is the
his name is Michael Phillips he is the
his name is Michael Phillips he is the pastor of kingdom Life Church and he
pastor of kingdom Life Church and he
pastor of kingdom Life Church and he often talks about how problems show up
often talks about how problems show up
often talks about how problems show up in our lives so arrogantly with so much
in our lives so arrogantly with so much
in our lives so arrogantly with so much confidence as if there’s just nothing we
confidence as if there’s just nothing we
confidence as if there’s just nothing we can do about him and the murder rate in
can do about him and the murder rate in
can do about him and the murder rate in Baltimore have been doing that year
Baltimore have been doing that year
Baltimore have been doing that year after year it just kept showing up as
after year it just kept showing up as
after year it just kept showing up as this big thing that there was nothing
this big thing that there was nothing
this big thing that there was nothing any of us could do anything about but
any of us could do anything about but
any of us could do anything about but the thing about Baltimore is that it has
the thing about Baltimore is that it has
the thing about Baltimore is that it has never been the one to just be defeated
never been the one to just be defeated
never been the one to just be defeated so the story about the Baltimore
so the story about the Baltimore
so the story about the Baltimore ceasefire is that Baltimore look the
ceasefire is that Baltimore look the
ceasefire is that Baltimore look the murder rate in the eye and said what
murder rate in the eye and said what
murder rate in the eye and said what you’re not going to do is snatch our
you’re not going to do is snatch our
you’re not going to do is snatch our greatness so two years ago I met a 300
greatness so two years ago I met a 300
greatness so two years ago I met a 300 men March meeting at the time I was a
men March meeting at the time I was a
men March meeting at the time I was a leader in that movement and this guy
leader in that movement and this guy
leader in that movement and this guy named ogoun he’s like a godfather of
named ogoun he’s like a godfather of
named ogoun he’s like a godfather of hip-hop in Baltimore he came over to me
hip-hop in Baltimore he came over to me
hip-hop in Baltimore he came over to me and he said yo I had this idea about
and he said yo I had this idea about
and he said yo I had this idea about calling the ceasefire in Baltimore and I
calling the ceasefire in Baltimore and I
calling the ceasefire in Baltimore and I feel like you are somebody I should talk
feel like you are somebody I should talk
feel like you are somebody I should talk to about that and I was like I’m
to about that and I was like I’m
to about that and I was like I’m absolutely somebody you should talk to
absolutely somebody you should talk to
absolutely somebody you should talk to about that because that’s what we should
about that because that’s what we should
about that because that’s what we should do and so we play phone tag and meeting
do and so we play phone tag and meeting
do and so we play phone tag and meeting tag and two years went by and we never
tag and two years went by and we never
tag and two years went by and we never really sat down and talked about it so
really sat down and talked about it so
really sat down and talked about it so now we’re in May of 2017 my son Paul
now we’re in May of 2017 my son Paul
now we’re in May of 2017 my son Paul he’s 19 years old he’s driving me home
he’s 19 years old he’s driving me home
he’s 19 years old he’s driving me home from work one day and he says my did you
from work one day and he says my did you
from work one day and he says my did you know that the murder rate in Baltimore
know that the murder rate in Baltimore
know that the murder rate in Baltimore is higher than it’s ever been and I said
is higher than it’s ever been and I said
is higher than it’s ever been and I said what you mean is higher than it’s ever
what you mean is higher than it’s ever
what you mean is higher than it’s ever been how is that possible like I mean
been how is that possible like I mean
been how is that possible like I mean what about these people who say they
what about these people who say they
what about these people who say they have connections to the streets
have connections to the streets
have connections to the streets why won’t they use those connections and
why won’t they use those connections and
why won’t they use those connections and call a ceasefire or something in Orono
call a ceasefire or something in Orono
call a ceasefire or something in Orono when I went from my own feelings of
when I went from my own feelings of
when I went from my own feelings of helplessness about what other people
helplessness about what other people
helplessness about what other people weren’t doing the next morning I woke up
weren’t doing the next morning I woke up
weren’t doing the next morning I woke up and I realized that what I was really
and I realized that what I was really
and I realized that what I was really angry about wasn’t about what other
angry about wasn’t about what other
angry about wasn’t about what other people weren’t doing it was that I had
people weren’t doing it was that I had
people weren’t doing it was that I had heard this message years ago and I
heard this message years ago and I
heard this message years ago and I hadn’t moved on it so it was it was
hadn’t moved on it so it was it was
hadn’t moved on it so it was it was about what I was supposed to be doing so
about what I was supposed to be doing so
about what I was supposed to be doing so I got up and I’m going okay if we could
I got up and I’m going okay if we could
I got up and I’m going okay if we could just have three days where everybody in
just have three days where everybody in
just have three days where everybody in the city was committing nobody is going
the city was committing nobody is going
the city was committing nobody is going to kill anybody and we’re going to
to kill anybody and we’re going to
to kill anybody and we’re going to celebrate life and stay when can we do
celebrate life and stay when can we do
celebrate life and stay when can we do that
that
that so it’s may I look at my calendar I’m
so it’s may I look at my calendar I’m
so it’s may I look at my calendar I’m like all right I got some free time the
like all right I got some free time the
like all right I got some free time the first weekend in August we’re good we’ll
first weekend in August we’re good we’ll
first weekend in August we’re good we’ll do it August 4th through August 6 right
do it August 4th through August 6 right
do it August 4th through August 6 right so I’m all excited I start driving the
so I’m all excited I start driving the
so I’m all excited I start driving the work and the more I Drive the scanner I
work and the more I Drive the scanner I
work and the more I Drive the scanner I get right and so I start going never
get right and so I start going never
get right and so I start going never mind I won’t say this thing out loud
mind I won’t say this thing out loud
mind I won’t say this thing out loud nobody will ever know I was thinking
nobody will ever know I was thinking
nobody will ever know I was thinking that if I don’t say it but it wouldn’t
that if I don’t say it but it wouldn’t
that if I don’t say it but it wouldn’t let me go because God loves to show up
let me go because God loves to show up
let me go because God loves to show up as us and because I look broken and I’m
as us and because I look broken and I’m
as us and because I look broken and I’m always called to standing my wholeness
always called to standing my wholeness
always called to standing my wholeness there was a call on my life to say this
there was a call on my life to say this
there was a call on my life to say this thing out loud and because my city looks
thing out loud and because my city looks
thing out loud and because my city looks broken and is always yearning to show up
broken and is always yearning to show up
broken and is always yearning to show up and it’s wholeness that were huts that
and it’s wholeness that were huts that
and it’s wholeness that were huts that morning calling all through my chest
morning calling all through my chest
morning calling all through my chest that people around this city wanted to
that people around this city wanted to
that people around this city wanted to do something great together
do something great together
do something great together and people who had already been killed
and people who had already been killed
and people who had already been killed in my city were calling to me up through
in my city were calling to me up through
in my city were calling to me up through my gut in my chest as a knot in my
my gut in my chest as a knot in my
my gut in my chest as a knot in my throat yo e you cannot just let us be
throat yo e you cannot just let us be
throat yo e you cannot just let us be dead in vain when you know how to say
dead in vain when you know how to say
dead in vain when you know how to say this thing out loud and I responded to
this thing out loud and I responded to
this thing out loud and I responded to them with my fear but somebody might get
them with my fear but somebody might get
them with my fear but somebody might get killed anyway that weekend and that was
killed anyway that weekend and that was
killed anyway that weekend and that was the moment where I had to accept that
the moment where I had to accept that
the moment where I had to accept that maybe while we’re out spreading this
maybe while we’re out spreading this
maybe while we’re out spreading this message hey nobody’s going to kill
message hey nobody’s going to kill
message hey nobody’s going to kill anybody we’re going to celebrate life
anybody we’re going to celebrate life
anybody we’re going to celebrate life maybe somebody will be plotting to take
maybe somebody will be plotting to take
maybe somebody will be plotting to take a life right then and there but now they
a life right then and there but now they
a life right then and there but now they would have a rumbling in their spirits
would have a rumbling in their spirits
would have a rumbling in their spirits and so I knew it was time for my city to
and so I knew it was time for my city to
and so I knew it was time for my city to have a collective rumbling in our spirit
have a collective rumbling in our spirit
have a collective rumbling in our spirit so I got on the phone I got around the
so I got on the phone I got around the
so I got on the phone I got around the old going and I said yo you said you
old going and I said yo you said you
old going and I said yo you said you wanted to do a ceasefire what is it I’m
wanted to do a ceasefire what is it I’m
wanted to do a ceasefire what is it I’m ready so he said you know when I hear
ready so he said you know when I hear
ready so he said you know when I hear about like the Israelis and Palestinians
about like the Israelis and Palestinians
about like the Israelis and Palestinians at whoa I’m like oh that’s too bad they
at whoa I’m like oh that’s too bad they
at whoa I’m like oh that’s too bad they should stop that but when I hear the
should stop that but when I hear the
should stop that but when I hear the word ceasefire that makes me pause and
word ceasefire that makes me pause and
word ceasefire that makes me pause and stop and really research what’s going on
stop and really research what’s going on
stop and really research what’s going on and he wanted Baltimore to get that same
and he wanted Baltimore to get that same
and he wanted Baltimore to get that same kind of attention from the outside but
kind of attention from the outside but
kind of attention from the outside but introspection from the inside about what
introspection from the inside about what
introspection from the inside about what was going on with us and we talked about
was going on with us and we talked about
was going on with us and we talked about how it couldn’t belong to one person not
how it couldn’t belong to one person not
how it couldn’t belong to one person not one person or one organization should
one person or one organization should
one person or one organization should call a ceasefire the whole city had to
call a ceasefire the whole city had to
call a ceasefire the whole city had to own it and do it together so we had our
own it and do it together so we had our
own it and do it together so we had our first meeting in May about 12 or 15
first meeting in May about 12 or 15
first meeting in May about 12 or 15 people show up
people show up
people show up and this is where it gives name the
and this is where it gives name the
and this is where it gives name the Baltimore ceasefire because you know
Baltimore ceasefire because you know
Baltimore ceasefire because you know what that means when you hear the word
what that means when you hear the word
what that means when you hear the word ceasefire just don’t kill nobody and
ceasefire just don’t kill nobody and
ceasefire just don’t kill nobody and this is where the Baltimore Peace
this is where the Baltimore Peace
this is where the Baltimore Peace challenge was born because it’s not just
challenge was born because it’s not just
challenge was born because it’s not just about not being violent it is about
about not being violent it is about
about not being violent it is about being purposefully peaceful what is
being purposefully peaceful what is
being purposefully peaceful what is going on in your thoughts what kind of
going on in your thoughts what kind of
going on in your thoughts what kind of petty things are you not saying out of
petty things are you not saying out of
petty things are you not saying out of your mouth how are you responding in
your mouth how are you responding in
your mouth how are you responding in your behaviors to conflict I grabbed up
your behaviors to conflict I grabbed up
your behaviors to conflict I grabbed up five people who I trusted and the six of
five people who I trusted and the six of
five people who I trusted and the six of us became the organizing squad so let’s
us became the organizing squad so let’s
us became the organizing squad so let’s give them props real quick on the count
give them props real quick on the count
give them props real quick on the count of three I want you to yell squad one
of three I want you to yell squad one
of three I want you to yell squad one two three
two three
two three squad and it’s Charlotte’s birthday
squad and it’s Charlotte’s birthday
squad and it’s Charlotte’s birthday happy birthday Charlotte’s right and so
happy birthday Charlotte’s right and so
happy birthday Charlotte’s right and so we put out a press release and the media
we put out a press release and the media
we put out a press release and the media told us this is not really a story yet
told us this is not really a story yet
told us this is not really a story yet we will get with you and August segments
we will get with you and August segments
we will get with you and August segments to see how the ceasefire went so we went
to see how the ceasefire went so we went
to see how the ceasefire went so we went a word all right then and Baltimore got
a word all right then and Baltimore got
a word all right then and Baltimore got to work and not only did people send
to work and not only did people send
to work and not only did people send money to the PayPal account so we could
money to the PayPal account so we could
money to the PayPal account so we could buy flyers and posters people came and
buy flyers and posters people came and
buy flyers and posters people came and got the fliers and posters and they put
got the fliers and posters and they put
got the fliers and posters and they put them all around the city and people were
them all around the city and people were
them all around the city and people were having conversations with each other
having conversations with each other
having conversations with each other what kind of resources do you need what
what kind of resources do you need what
what kind of resources do you need what are you going through what has happened
are you going through what has happened
are you going through what has happened to you because we understand the root
to you because we understand the root
to you because we understand the root causes of violence in this country
causes of violence in this country
causes of violence in this country people who said it wouldn’t work still
people who said it wouldn’t work still
people who said it wouldn’t work still into their sentence with but please keep
into their sentence with but please keep
into their sentence with but please keep trying somebody needs to do something
trying somebody needs to do something
trying somebody needs to do something anyway
anyway
anyway teenagers who would tell us about the
teenagers who would tell us about the
teenagers who would tell us about the stuff they were doing in the streets all
stuff they were doing in the streets all
stuff they were doing in the streets all day ask but can I have a poster to put
day ask but can I have a poster to put
day ask but can I have a poster to put it on my world at night so I can see it
it on my world at night so I can see it
it on my world at night so I can see it on my way to be guyst is what Carla’s
on my way to be guyst is what Carla’s
on my way to be guyst is what Carla’s saying I can tell you where violence is
saying I can tell you where violence is
saying I can tell you where violence is not going to come from because we’re
not going to come from because we’re
not going to come from because we’re committing to the peace challenge and
committing to the peace challenge and
committing to the peace challenge and they kept their word when people said oh
they kept their word when people said oh
they kept their word when people said oh it’s not gonna work because somebody’s
it’s not gonna work because somebody’s
it’s not gonna work because somebody’s gonna kill over Wessel somebody’s gonna
gonna kill over Wessel somebody’s gonna
gonna kill over Wessel somebody’s gonna kill all over east we said that doesn’t
kill all over east we said that doesn’t
kill all over east we said that doesn’t matter
matter
matter it’s about self-determination yo you
it’s about self-determination yo you
it’s about self-determination yo you telling me you can’t keep this three or
telling me you can’t keep this three or
telling me you can’t keep this three or six block radius safe and they would say
six block radius safe and they would say
six block radius safe and they would say oh don’t get it twisted is going to stay
oh don’t get it twisted is going to stay
oh don’t get it twisted is going to stay safe around here and they kept their
safe around here and they kept their
safe around here and they kept their promise
for a song and I know it looks like I’m
for a song and I know it looks like I’m holding up five fingers but I had four
holding up five fingers but I had four
holding up five fingers but I had four fingers so this is four for me four
fingers so this is four for me four
fingers so this is four for me four songs got made about the Baltimore
songs got made about the Baltimore
songs got made about the Baltimore ceasefire and the one that most
ceasefire and the one that most
ceasefire and the one that most exemplifies that we’re a bunch of
exemplifies that we’re a bunch of
exemplifies that we’re a bunch of artists came together and made a song
artists came together and made a song
artists came together and made a song that one is currently nominated for a
that one is currently nominated for a
that one is currently nominated for a Grammy out here right and so now what
Grammy out here right and so now what
Grammy out here right and so now what was happening was from the most
was happening was from the most
was happening was from the most beautiful corners of crack houses to the
beautiful corners of crack houses to the
beautiful corners of crack houses to the grimy is corners of politicians offices
grimy is corners of politicians offices
grimy is corners of politicians offices everybody was talking about this thing
everybody was talking about this thing
everybody was talking about this thing Baltimore was doing together right and
Baltimore was doing together right and
Baltimore was doing together right and then the weekend came events all over
then the weekend came events all over
then the weekend came events all over the city people yell a happy ceasefire
the city people yell a happy ceasefire
the city people yell a happy ceasefire day over two hundred people got their
day over two hundred people got their
day over two hundred people got their records expunged and got jobs and people
records expunged and got jobs and people
records expunged and got jobs and people went into drug recovery programs because
went into drug recovery programs because
went into drug recovery programs because of what was happening in our city that
of what was happening in our city that
of what was happening in our city that weekend people were going but the air
weekend people were going but the air
weekend people were going but the air feels different in Baltimore nobody’s
feels different in Baltimore nobody’s
feels different in Baltimore nobody’s mother got that phone call last night I
mother got that phone call last night I
mother got that phone call last night I didn’t hear any gunshots and on Saturday
didn’t hear any gunshots and on Saturday
didn’t hear any gunshots and on Saturday trade went to go get a job and was
trade went to go get a job and was
trade went to go get a job and was excited about it at 24 hours of no
excited about it at 24 hours of no
excited about it at 24 hours of no killing we were singing Kendrick Lamar
killing we were singing Kendrick Lamar
killing we were singing Kendrick Lamar we’re gonna be all right
we’re gonna be all right
we’re gonna be all right we’re gonna be all right and then at
we’re gonna be all right and then at
we’re gonna be all right and then at 4:59 on Saturday we get a message that
4:59 on Saturday we get a message that
4:59 on Saturday we get a message that somebody was killed we didn’t know his
somebody was killed we didn’t know his
somebody was killed we didn’t know his name but it turned out to be Trey so we
name but it turned out to be Trey so we
name but it turned out to be Trey so we rushed over to sergeant Street and we
rushed over to sergeant Street and we
rushed over to sergeant Street and we held hands in a circle and we looked at
held hands in a circle and we looked at
held hands in a circle and we looked at the pavement and we said this is sacred
the pavement and we said this is sacred
the pavement and we said this is sacred ground because we make it so because
ground because we make it so because
ground because we make it so because everywhere in our city where people lose
everywhere in our city where people lose
everywhere in our city where people lose their lives to violence needs to be
their lives to violence needs to be
their lives to violence needs to be sacred ground and it wasn’t just about
sacred ground and it wasn’t just about
sacred ground and it wasn’t just about upholding Trey in his transition and
upholding Trey in his transition and
upholding Trey in his transition and sending love to his family it was about
sending love to his family it was about
sending love to his family it was about us pausing to really think about what
us pausing to really think about what
us pausing to really think about what must it feel like 20 minutes after you
must it feel like 20 minutes after you
must it feel like 20 minutes after you kill somebody can’t we pour love into
kill somebody can’t we pour love into
kill somebody can’t we pour love into that cuz until we do we will not heal
that cuz until we do we will not heal
that cuz until we do we will not heal this epidemic later on in the day we get
this epidemic later on in the day we get
this epidemic later on in the day we get another call Dante is murdered so by the
another call Dante is murdered so by the
another call Dante is murdered so by the end of this day we were shook
end of this day we were shook
end of this day we were shook in real life we were shook because we
in real life we were shook because we
in real life we were shook because we had opened up our hearts together and
had opened up our hearts together and
had opened up our hearts together and changed the atmosphere of the city and
changed the atmosphere of the city and
changed the atmosphere of the city and now our hearts were broken together and
now our hearts were broken together and
now our hearts were broken together and we had to be honest about the fact that
we had to be honest about the fact that
we had to be honest about the fact that last weekend when we lost six people to
last weekend when we lost six people to
last weekend when we lost six people to violence it didn’t feel the way it felt
violence it didn’t feel the way it felt
violence it didn’t feel the way it felt this weekend when we lost these two
this weekend when we lost these two
this weekend when we lost these two because now we were paying attention now
because now we were paying attention now
because now we were paying attention now we were all hoping together that nobody
we were all hoping together that nobody
we were all hoping together that nobody got killed and so we had to make a vow
got killed and so we had to make a vow
got killed and so we had to make a vow with ourselves not to be numb anymore
with ourselves not to be numb anymore
with ourselves not to be numb anymore when we lose people in our city these
when we lose people in our city these
when we lose people in our city these two lives were going to remind us to
two lives were going to remind us to
two lives were going to remind us to vibrate higher and to move forward so as
vibrate higher and to move forward so as
vibrate higher and to move forward so as we move forward into Baltimore ceasefire
we move forward into Baltimore ceasefire
we move forward into Baltimore ceasefire 365 because it’s work that needs to be
365 because it’s work that needs to be
365 because it’s work that needs to be done all year and there’s another
done all year and there’s another
done all year and there’s another ceasefire happening next weekend
ceasefire happening next weekend
ceasefire happening next weekend November 3rd through 5th mark your
November 3rd through 5th mark your
November 3rd through 5th mark your calendar right and we expect the same
calendar right and we expect the same
calendar right and we expect the same thing it was news media from all around
thing it was news media from all around
thing it was news media from all around the world Australia and Norway in China
the world Australia and Norway in China
the world Australia and Norway in China everybody wanted to come get this work
everybody wanted to come get this work
everybody wanted to come get this work from Baltimore and y’all can come get it
from Baltimore and y’all can come get it
from Baltimore and y’all can come get it right so as we push fuller we don’t need
right so as we push fuller we don’t need
right so as we push fuller we don’t need to keep asking now what can we do we
to keep asking now what can we do we
to keep asking now what can we do we have seen the power of collective
have seen the power of collective
have seen the power of collective consciousness y’all were the ones who
consciousness y’all were the ones who
consciousness y’all were the ones who misunderstood Baltimore your thought
misunderstood Baltimore your thought
misunderstood Baltimore your thought Baltimore was just the wire when we lost
Baltimore was just the wire when we lost
Baltimore was just the wire when we lost Freddie gray y’all saw the Baltimore
Freddie gray y’all saw the Baltimore
Freddie gray y’all saw the Baltimore uprising and people around this world
uprising and people around this world
uprising and people around this world mischaracterized it and misunderstood it
mischaracterized it and misunderstood it
mischaracterized it and misunderstood it what you fail to realize is Baltimore is
what you fail to realize is Baltimore is
what you fail to realize is Baltimore is the power to rise up and that is what we
the power to rise up and that is what we
the power to rise up and that is what we continue to do and so as we move forward
continue to do and so as we move forward
continue to do and so as we move forward we see you America with your systems of
we see you America with your systems of
we see you America with your systems of violent oppression trying to beat us
violent oppression trying to beat us
violent oppression trying to beat us into the ground and still we rise we
into the ground and still we rise we
into the ground and still we rise we rise and stand where cities all over
rise and stand where cities all over
rise and stand where cities all over this country just like us who are handed
this country just like us who are handed
this country just like us who are handed through no fault of their own criminal
through no fault of their own criminal
through no fault of their own criminal conditions in which to live and then
conditions in which to live and then
conditions in which to live and then they get labeled savages for how they
they get labeled savages for how they
they get labeled savages for how they live we stand with them we remind them
live we stand with them we remind them
live we stand with them we remind them we are an example of what you can do
we are an example of what you can do
we are an example of what you can do when you say no I don’t have to accept
when you say no I don’t have to accept
when you say no I don’t have to accept these conditions that you are trying to
these conditions that you are trying to
these conditions that you are trying to hand me I get to decide what the
hand me I get to decide what the
hand me I get to decide what the greatest vision
greatest vision
greatest vision myself looks like and so the next time
myself looks like and so the next time
myself looks like and so the next time you are faced with a dilemma with a
you are faced with a dilemma with a
you are faced with a dilemma with a problem you can say let me be like
problem you can say let me be like
problem you can say let me be like Baltimore let me look it in the face let
Baltimore let me look it in the face let
Baltimore let me look it in the face let me tell it but what you’re not going to
me tell it but what you’re not going to
me tell it but what you’re not going to do it snatched my greatness
do it snatched my greatness
do it snatched my greatness please believe it thank you
please believe it thank you
please believe it thank you [Applause]
”
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