June 3, 2007 - Just one day after a woman, alleged to be under the influence of PCP, drove her silver Volvo into several attendees injuring thirty-five, some critically, at the annual UniFest Street Festival on Martin Luther King Avenue in South East D.C.; the Reverend Willie Wilson, pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church is helping the community heal.

Delaying his travel plans to Detroit, the Reverend Wilson told the congregation,  “Once I heard about the tragic event in our community, I knew I had to get back home.”

“Let us use this moment this morning to renew ourselves.  To rejuvenate ourselves”, said Reverend Wilson.

And rejuvenate they did.  In song, in dance, and in prayer for the victims of the tragedy.

D.C. Council member Marion Barry, who was well received as he addressed the congregation of Unifest 25 T-shirt wearers said, “In times of great despair we need to trust God the most.”

“We just want to pray for those that were affected by the incident.”

Dispelling the rampant negative rumors about the festival’s incident, Councilman Barry exclaimed, “In 25 years we’ve had great success with Unifest, not one incident.  But you don’t here about that on Channel 7, or 4, and 9.”

A representative from the D.C. Department of Mental Health was also on hand to provide grief counseling information along with a few suggested action items for those in the community to implement.

 “We need our community to return to normalcy. ”Check on each other, says the Mental Health Department representative.

 “Check on the children.  If they look like they are stressed, or if you notice anything unusual, you can call 1-888-7-WEHELP.” (1-888- 793-4357). “That’s the number to the Department of Mental Health’s Help Access Line."

 “Next, we need to encourage each other"; and finally; "pray without ceasing", he added.

Unifest, founded by Union Temple Baptist Church in 1981 and first known as the "Chitlin Strut”, ”the Chicken Stroll”, and later the “Down Home Cultural Festival and Parade," is a two-day event highlighting the culture, diversity and rich history of African Americans and the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington, D.C.

Union Temple Baptist Church is located at 1225 W. Street, SE, and online at www.uniontemple.com.

Says Reverend Wilson, “we will be back bigger, stronger, and better next year, with God’s help.”