NORFOLK, Va. - A local church took a few minutes during its Sunday service to give an award to the leader of "Stop the Violence" efforts around Hampton Roads.
It was a packed congregation inside First Baptist Church Campostella, as Pastor Tyrone Jackson, Jr. gave the church's 2024 Community Service award to Bilal Muhammad.
“We thank you for your leadership, we thank you for your brotherhood, we thank you for being a safe haven," Jackson told a teary Muhammad regarding his work in the surrounding Campostella neighborhood.
Muhammad and his "Stop the Violence" team are often spotted visiting places impacted by gunfire, sometimes immediately after someone has been hurt or killed. He's known to hold rallies and host mentorship programs to try and create more positive outcomes.
Gun violence has personally touched the activist's life multiple times: he lost his brother in the 1980s and, just last year, his 33-year-old son, Ali, was shot and killed in Norfolk's Ocean View area.
“We had to continue on. What affected us, our family, losing our loved one, this is a motivation for us to work harder, save other lives. Hopefully, that this can bring a better condition in the community for many, many, many more families," Muhammad told News 3 outside the church on Sunday.
Muhammad's wife and other children attended the service and stood on stage as he received the award.
Muhammad says he grew up in the Campostella neighborhood, making the occasion all the more special.
