With the recent occurrences of gun violence in the area, one grassroots organization is concerned about the acts of aggression and desires to put a stop to it.

The newly formed Concern Citizens Against Violence, or CCAV, will hold its first community meeting Saturday, May 5 at 11 a.m. inside the St. James Hotel. The event is free and open to the public.

With a mission to create awareness and make practical steps that impact a growing problem in the society as it relates to violent acts of aggression, CCAV is a group made up of citizens from Demopolis, Uniontown and Selma, who believe they can make a difference.

One of the group’s founders Maria Mann said the organization was always something she wanted to get off the ground.

“This kind of thing fell into my lap,” Mann said. “I got a call from someone in California who had a ‘stop the violence’ organization and I invited him to come to Alabama. I got pastors, principals, police chiefs involved, so we could start networking. The mission was to stop the violence in the community.”

A native of New York, Mann said she is familiar with rampant crime. She believes the key to curtailing crime is to get to the source of it.

“There is so much crime committed in the community against people in the community — we just have to stop that,” Mann said. “Most of the children (who commit the crimes) aren’t listened to. I wanted to put some programs together for them and then leave them to speak — give their thoughts; I want to network with everyone in the area and give children in the area something to do.”

Mann is asking the public to join in the conversation.

For more information call 216-1402.