A Union couple hopes the anti-violence rally they are organizing will raise awareness of a wide range of issues, including domestic abuse and gang violence.

Willie and Kimberly Rice are the organizers of the “Stop The Violence, Stop The Abuse and Rap It Up” rally planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Union County Fairgrounds. Mrs. Rice said the rally will focus on the problems of domestic abuse, gang violence, sexual assault, and teen pregnancy and prevention. Though they’ve received assistance from their church, Mt. Rowell Baptist, Mrs. Rice said she and her husband are not organizing the rally on behalf of a particular organization, but as private citizens interested in the well-being of their community and its people.

“We want to raise public awareness of what’s going on in the community and let people know what they can do,” she said.

The rally will feature speeches by Union County Sheriff David Taylor; Amanda Prince of the S.C. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission; Jonesville Mayor Ernest Moore; Lisa Hartley of the Union County Pregnancy Center; Lockhart Mayor Ailene Ashe; motivational speaker D.L. Nelson of Greenville; Michelle Shugart with the Union County Victims Advocate Office; Simpsonville resident Tracy Fant of Mothers and Dads Against Dating Violence; and Rock Hill social worker Chiquite Thompson of Safe Passage, a domestic violence shelter.

The rally will feaure musical performances by Demetrious Richardson, a Christian rapper from Anderson; Chavous Hill, a 14-year-old rapper from Spartanburg; and a DJ who will play various types of music.

For more information about the rally, contact the Rices at 674-0758 or bmorebest@bellsouth.net.