With San Antonio Police Chief William McManus and a host of other law enforcers in attendance, a group of East Side activists made an impassioned call for non-violence at a rally held at the Greater Faith Institutional Church on Sunday afternoon.

Bishop Rosita Wilson, 60, organized the rally, which doubled as a back- to-school fundraiser for area youths. Making note of the string of controversial, officer-involved shootings and racially-charged instances of violence across the country during the past year, Wilson pleaded for both area inhabitants and local law enforcement to come together to “talk out” their concerns.

“The world is in such an uproar right now,” Wilson said. “I felt compelled to say that violence is not the answer ... and we want to reach out to our (youths) and make sure they know how to interact respectfully with police.”

Wilson’s group, which also included area religious leaders, social organizers from the League of United Latin American Citizens, and area Democratic Party representatives, also said the rally was also meant to start a dialogue with area law enforcement.

“We want to have a discussion about ... how police feel about protests,” Wilson continued. “We see protests and boycotts as bringing about change, but we want to do it in a peaceful manner, so we can be heard.”

McManus, who briefly took the microphone at the rally, told the crowd his department was committed to “doing great things” in the community, and encouraged an open dialogue between peaceful activists and his department.

“With all of the violence and the talk of divide between police and the community, what we’re doing here today is a good thing,” he explained.

“We’re here today, and we’ll be here every day we need to be here,” McManus added. “Every day that we’re asked to be here, we’ll come out ... because this type of conversation is the only thing that’s going to bring the community and the police together.”

jgerlach@express-news.net