Gang Members, Police Attend Rapper’s Anti-Violence Summit

California-based rapper The Game invited representatives from street gangs and law enforcement to a town hall-style anti-violence meeting in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Hundreds attended the event, billed “Time to Unite: United Hoods + Gangs Nation,” at a Church of Scientology community center in South Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“Your life should mean more to you,” an emotional Game — real name Jayceon Terrell Taylor — told the audience at the event, according to the Times. “You life should mean more to you than what you’re showing.”

Former Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.i.Am attended the event, as did Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, who reportedly shook hands with and hugged The Game outside the meeting. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan was expected to be in attendance, though it was not immediately clear if he had attended. Snoop Dogg reportedly did not attend the meeting, but helped promote it on social media.

According to the Associated Press, speakers and screens were set up outside the community center to accommodate those who could not get in, while free water was handed out as afternoon temperatures soared.

After the murders of five Dallas police officers earlier this month, The Game and Snoop Dogg led a peaceful march to Los Angeles police headquarters, where they met with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Beck.

“Those are human beings,” The Game said of the five murdered police officers and seven others who were wounded after a gunman ambushed and opened fire on police during a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas, Texas.

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H.U.N.T the movement !!! #HATEUSNOTTODAY #HUNTUSNOTTODAY

A post shared by The Game (@losangelesconfidential) on Jul 8, 2016 at 8:27am PDT

“I came to a realization that we are really, really destroying humanity,” the 36-year-old rapper added. “While I have all these cameras on me, I want to tell everyone that has their eyes on me that I love you — no matter your race, what school you teach, whoever you are in the world.”

Also this month, The Game and his eldest son Harlem started a GoFundMe fundraising drive on behalf of Little Rock, Arkansas police officer Tommy Norman, a white officer known for spending time with children within the predominantly black community that he serves.

The rapper raised more than $72,000 for the officer in just nine days.

 

Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum