The 2,000 strong group packed the pews at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale to demand action in two major social justice issues: rising crime rates and out of control housing costs.

Two thousand members of two dozen Broward churches were hot about crime and housing issues during a recent meeting with community officials, but they left with lukewarm results.

“Tonight we made history when 2,000 of us came together to do justice and take action on serious problems that need serious solutions . . . but I’m disappointed that that some officials did not find it necessary to address those problems,” said Beverly Warren, of Mount Hermon AME Church in Fort Lauderdale.

The group, members of Broward Organized Leaders Doing Justice, also called BOLD Justice, packed the pews at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale to demand that police improve ways for citizens to anonymously report crime and that elected officials support suggestions for more affordable housing.

The meeting, called Nehemiah Action, followed months of research by church committees to find practical ways to improve both problems. It was the third annual Nehemiah Action since the organization was established in September 2007.

The topics were decided in November 2009 by a vote of the consortium, which is cross-denominational. The group cemented its resolve during a March rally at Little Flower Catholic Church in Hollywood.

At the rally, Bob Drake, on the crime committee at Little Flower, said meetings held since November with police departments, other law enforcement agencies and the American Civil Liberties Union revealed that as crime increases, residents are less likely to report incidents or offer tips to help solve crimes.
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Beverly Warren said the group hopes to attract 6,000 members to its next meeting in June. “We have big hairy audacious goals to meet,” Warren said.