Staff

Pastor Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor of Greater Zion Church Family and president of Pastors for Compton and Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, Compton Councilmember Michelle Chambers joined representatives from the Christian Clergy United Action Network to announce a call to action against the increasing violence in the street of Compton in the wake of the recent death of Rev. Joe Reginald Moore, who was shot dead outside of a Compton church.

“We will not hide, run, nor tremble in fear while allowing evil. to run rampant in our Compton Streets,” said Fisher, who organized the press conference and has long served as a community advocate in the city of Compton and is seeking justice for the family of Moore.

“We are calling for the LA County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Division and the streets of Compton to locate the assailants that murdered Rev. Joe Reginald Moore. We will not rest nor stop until they are found. We are calling out those of the Black Lives Matter Movement to join us in taking back the streets of Compton and rallying in support of the family of Rev. Joe Reginald Moore.”

“I can’t even think right now because I’m hurting so much. He was a good man and loved God,” said Moore’s wife, Sharon who was among those who found the 65-year old pastor face down on the ground after going to his car to retrieve his wallet.

Both Councilmember Michelle Chambers and Compton Mayor Emma Sharif spoke of the need for resources and assistance in grappling with the issue of street violence and to fund programs that provide Compton youth with alternatives.

Fisher is also calling on the support of Black Lives Matter.

“We need their resources and their ability to galvanize protests in the community the way they do when they come against law enforcement.”

Fisher says that their response has been to say their primary focus is law enforcement, but he believes that the street violence is what precipitates the actions of law enforcement and as such, they are linked.

He is pressing them to show up for an ecumenical rally on November 14^th at the Compton City Hall.

“The purpose is to pray for the families of loved ones lost to violence; to publicly call for accountability on the part of public officials for bringing funds and resources to our community that would provide alternatives to those in the gang lifestyle; and finally, to call on the sheriff to put up a reward and boost law enforcement on our streets.”

“Somebody somewhere knows something,” Fisher added, “so we also wanted to put pressure on the community to turn in the killer.”

Thus far, no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.