KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Operation Ceasefire is underway with the goal of having a weekend free of gun violence in the Kansas City area.
The movement started three years ago after organizer Ronell Bailey saw the movie "Barbershop 3: The Next Cut."
The movie includes conversations about a ceasefire to help reduce gun violence and Bailey wanted to do something similar in the Kansas City community.
Dozens came out to pray then play games Saturday at United Believers Community Church. There also was a bounce house for kids to play in as part of Saturday's event, which is one part of a three-day weekend of Operation Ceasefire events.
“Overall, it's terrible," Bailey said. "You know every time you look at the news it's always some type of violence, even if it's a kid getting shot, someone riding up the highway getting shot at. It's terrible, so we need to find ways to connect the dots."
For some at the picnic, Operation Ceasefire serves as a way to teach their children to be non-violent and to look at police officers in a different light.
“This is so to my heart, because they are reaching out to the children," Natalia Keys said. "Well, we all are, because that's the next generation. So, if we can change even the thought of one child to impact the next child, we can change to world just by one thought with one kid."
Operation Ceasefire continues Sunday with seven barbershops offering free haircuts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
