By William Brand, STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND, CA
GOD, WITHOUT DOUBT, was on the side of the religious and righteous Saturday morning as several hundred church members, armed with prayers and hope, attempted to surround the huge East Oakland area dubbed the "killing zone" because so many people have died there.
The hard rain of the night before gave way to mist and gray skies before the attempt at a human chain began at 9 a.m. But as the hourlong vigil ended, the sun broke out for the first time in days.
An hour later, it was raining again.
It was a huge area, and not even the hundreds of participants, from 65 churches in Oakland, Hayward, Richmond, Antioch and as far away as Fresno, could link hands and a form a continuous chain.
"We've got the (street) corners anchored, and it's a good start," said the Rev. Keith Henderson of True Fellowship Baptist Church, who started the vigil a year ago.
The area bounded by International Boulevard, 105th Avenue, MacArthur Boulevard, Seminary Avenue and San Leandro Street has one of the highest murder rates in the city. There were 16 murders in the area last year and 29 in the neighborhoods just beyond.
Henderson drove the boundaries in a minivan, yelling encouragement through a bullhorn and jumping out occasionally to greet participants.
"Bless you saints," he said over and over. Sometimes there were 20 or more people; at one point there was a prayer circle.
On one corner on isolated San Leandro Street, a single, bearded man stood on a corner, Bible in hand.
Standing with two dozen people at one point along MacArthur, Marion Dixon said she came out for the young guys who are being killed.
"It's time to stop it," she said. "You get upset by the violence, by young prostitutes at bus stops."
"Yes, and the shots through the window, and you're hiding on the floor. We've had enough," said Nakia George.
It will take more than sermons and prayers to stop this, Henderson said. "We try to take a holistic approach, mind, body and soul."
Members of Your Black Muslim Bakery, including leader Yosef Bey IV, also circled the area in cars, flying red and gold Muslim flags, honking and showing support for the parishioners.
Henderson said he started the New Year's Eve vigil a year ago with a much smaller group.
"If we're going to take the streets back, we need more than the churches," he said. "We need to involve the community; we need to get people to come out of their houses."
On this day no one came out.
On 104th Avenue, a trio of workmen standing beside a shop with a fence topped with razor wire and a mean dog that barked and snarled watched the parishioners with interest.
"I've lived here 15 years," said Alfredo Vidrio in Spanish. "Year after year, one year is the same as the next. One year they kill 55. The next year, more. There are never changes. The violence is always the same."
"It's the drugs, and they shoot at each other. Always, it's about drugs," he said.
He has children, he said, and yes, he worries about them constantly.
"We want to end the violence," said Henderson.
But it will take everyone's help, he said.
For more information on the effort to stem violence in East Oakland, call (510) 632-4646.
STORY SOURCE
By: Jerry Bowers, PrayCal, 
