It took the death of Whitney Houston to bring peace to the streets in her hometown of Newark.
Gang leaders in “Brick City” have called for a day of non-violence today in honor of the songstress’ star-studded funeral at the New Hope Baptist Church.
Hykine Johnson, a former high-ranking member of the Sex, Money, Murder Bloods who still has influence among the city’s gangs, first made the call for a cease-fire on his Facebook wall as a way to pay tribute to Houston.
“I was talking to the Bloods and the Crips and they both decided to do this. I want to take my hat off to them for following through,” Johnson said.
“Whitney Houston was a great woman. She did a lot for the neighborhood,” Johnson said, adding that the superstar pop singer helped fund lower-income housing in the city.
Gangs affiliated with the Bloods, Mob PIRU and 135PIRUML confirmed they’d try to keep things quiet today.
A police lieutenant said today the truce appears to have been honored, and added, “Thank God.”
Nearly 2,000 mourners attended Houston’s funeral today at the church where she once wowed congregations.
