Father of homicide victim Nelson Hopkins Jr. kicks off Operation Promise Land Friday

Nelson Hopkins Sr. considers Kansas City’s homicide rate a “state of emergency.” His son Nelson Hopkins Jr. became the 105th homicide of 2009 on December 1, and Nelson’s cousin Randy Wilson was killed January 9 of this year. Both homicides are unsolved. Because drastic times call for drastic measures, Hopkins is launching his own anti-violence initiative, Operation Promise Land, on Friday.

Today, Hopkins began passing out fliers inviting community activists, politicians and concerned citizens to meet him on the block of 4400 Agnes (in the heart of the 64130 zip code, a.k.a. the “Murder Factory”) from 3-4 p.m. Friday.

“Once people assemble and I get some hot coffee or tea into their hands, I’m going to talk about what Operation Promise Land is all about,” Hopkins says. Then, he’ll ask for volunteers to join him in passing out fliers around the neighborhood, letting people know about Operation Promise Land, and spreading the message that violence will no longer be tolerated in our inner-city neighborhoods.