After seven people were shot, one dead, in the parking lot outside his establishment this past Sunday evening, LeVar and community groups held a peace rally initiative in support of a ‘community call-to-action’ to find solutions to end violence and crime plaguing our community.

One solution we heard repeatedly at the event was that of personal responsibility.

“We all have a responsibility to be positive, and to show [positivity] so that it [encourages] others to be positive.  If we can all adopt that attitude and outlook on how we live our lives I think we’ll eliminate a lot of what we have going on”, said Arrington.

“Positive energy breeds positive results and we have to move in that direction.  We can’t just be ceremonial, we have to move in that direction.”

Arrington, who admitted to not knowing what caused the incident in the parking lot outside his establishment said he spares no expense to protect his patrons.

“As a business owner, I’m not going to take the chance of something like that happening in my restaurant."  

LeVar told us that he has an eight man security detail that includes two police officers on the nights where there is live entertainment at The Sideline.

“That's over and beyond what’s really required for a restaurant of this size.”

“Nothing happens in here. We’re incident-free", added Arrington.

The event was also intended to attract the support of local PG County council members and officials, but instead left community non-violence organizations disappointed by the lack of their support.

“I think it’s a shame that only Glenn Ivey responded to a call that was sent out to all of them in the county council", said Jauhar Abraham, CEO of Peaceoholics.

“I think LeVar is a stand up guy.  We appreciate the fact that after he retired from the Redskins he stayed in the community, [made] an enormous investment in PG County, and he’s hiring people, and he’s adding to the tax base in PG County, and I think he deserves the support of the community, the way he’s supported us.”

"I’m calling for the leadership of Prince George’s county to step up and be more proactive”, said Abraham.

Added Anwar ‘Big G’ Glover, “A lot of people (officials) come out when they want people to vote for them, but they don’t really come out and support things like this.” 

“If we get everybody together as a unit, the PG county police, and the council people it would be a better time.”

Arrington was praised by community members for not just having tonight’s peace rally, but for bringing cultures and youth together. 

The Youth Speak

“This (The Sideline) is a safe establishment, but the people coming to these clubs need to take more responsibility in the way they act as far as drinking”, said one twenty-one year old patron.

“The police have a job to do, and they can’t always be hanging out to prevent stuff from happening. Everyone needs to be held accountable for these situations, because we don’t want the same thing to be happening over, and over, and over again.  We need to be accountable for our own selves, and everyone else should be alright.”

“Every month we have a meeting on peace this, and peace that, and it seems no one is getting the message.  We need to be accountable for our own selves and everyone else will be fine.”

Stephon Morris, a Roosevelt High cornerback, and Penn State recruit is a patron of the Sideline.

“I encourage youth to come here.  That’s how I met Stephon.  Anytime the guys want to come over after school, they’re welcome", said Arrington.

The rally also called for increased police presence at the Boulevard at the Capital Centre.

However, when we asked a police officer on site if there will be more police presence, he replied, “I can’t comment on that.”

The 'Stop The Violence Weekend' continues through this Saturday. 

For more info, visit TheSidelineOnline.com.