A Unity Walk was held in Renton, Washington in 2024, designed to raise immediate awareness about the escalating issue of gun violence. The event was spearheaded by Dr. James E. Sears III, who has been outspoken about the urgent need for action from community leaders and peers. 

Dr. Sears emphasized the importance of addressing gun violence, particularly among young people, and advocated that education and community engagement are the key to preventing further loss of life.

The walk was a public display of solidarity, beginning at the Renton Transit Center and culminating at Renton City Hall. There, Dr. Sears delivered a powerful address, calling for both unity and accountability within the community to confront the root causes of violence. He was joined by community leader Erica Conway, who reinforced the message, stressing that tackling this issue requires collective action and widespread support, stating, "We can't do this by ourselves."

Dr. Sears's commitment to this cause is deeply personal, as he is the Pastor of Grace Temple, the church attended by Garfield High School student Amarr Murphy-Paine, who lost his life to gun violence that same year. 

The Unity Walk served as a vital platform for the community to come together and advocate for change, with Dr. Sears’s closing remarks encapsulating the event’s spirit of empowerment and hope: “We as a community can do something about it today,” he said. 

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