Rising temperatures, rise in crime: Milwaukee pastors take a stand against violence

MILWAUKEE -- As pastors prepare for a cease-fire event just weeks away, news of a shooting involving a well-known community activist is spreading. On Thursday, June 23rd, Tory Lowe says his vehicle was hit by a bullet as he was driving.

He doesn't know if he was a target or not but the pastors say it's a prime example of why they are taking action.

Pastor Darryl Seay

"We know when the weather gets warm people get outside more and when people get outside more, words get exchanged more," said Pastor Darryl Seay.

Pastor Darryl Seay says now is the time and the place.

"When words get exchanged, more tempers flare and when tempers flare more violence happens. This year's cease-fire revival has been designed to really get to the heart of the city where most of the crime is happening where many of the families are living in poverty," said Pastor Seay.

Seven pastors will come together in one of Milwaukee's most statically crime-ridden areas, hitting the streets trying to make a difference.

Pastor Tony Whitley Jr.

"Just about every other night we hear gunshots in our area. We hear about the ones when people die and get severely injured, but we don't hear about the ones when they don't get injured and it's happening on a regular basis," said Pastor Tony Whitley Jr.

Just recently, the pastors did hear about one of those at 5th and Keefe -- it involved local community activist Tory Lowe.

"I saw that on his Facebook page. My heart goes out to this young man. He is in the community actively trying to bring about change in the community so we pray God's protection over his life right now," said Pastor Kier Jones.

Lowe shared photos, showing a bullet lodged in his vehicle. He doesn't know if he was a target or caught in crossfire.

Pastor Kier Jones

"That's even more of a reason that we need an event like the cease-fire," said Pastor Jones.

"If we don't start addressing it now we don't know what's going to happen. It can't get better it can only get worse," said Pastor Seay.

The pastors say they are going to educate people, help them find jobs, housing and resources.

Each night of the cease-fire is dedicated to another issue: families affected by violence, take back our streets, and stop human trafficking. It starts July 11th and goes through the 15th, held at 22nd and Center.