By Bill Starlin

(Harlem, NY) Community activists, reformed gangsters, and the youth of Harlem joined Grammy Award winning artist TI at a press conference and rally aimed at curbing gun violence in urban communities.

TI, whose real name is Clifford Harris, is currently waiting to serve time as part of a plea deal stemming from a 2008 arrest for automatic weapon and silencer charges.  Harris was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and a year of community service.

The event, held at Sharpton’s National Action Network headquarters featured a series of short speeches from former femme fatale rapper Queen Pen, a much-publicized victim of domestic violence, music mogul Kevin Liles, long a supporter of Sharpton, and the family of Corey Squire, a 17-year-old Harlem victim of gang violence, whose death played a large role in bringing the press conference together.

Also in attendence was Sean Bell shooting survivor Joseph Guzman. Former street legends Chaz Williams and Lance Furtado were also on hand as representatives of different programs designed to promote positivy to urban youth.

Following the press conference, all in attendence took a walk of peace to the spot where Corey Squire was killed.

Community groups in attendence included Life Camp, Inc., The C.H.A.N.G.E. Initiative, The Political Swagger Foundation, and Harris’ own K.I.N.G. Foundation.

[pro-player width=’425′ height=’344′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA6WZ2ECkMI[/pro-player]

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Bill Starlin may be reached via E-mail @ BillStarlin@yahoo.com