(06/27/06) NEWARK ? Residents and community leaders are calling for Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ) to declare a state of emergency in Newark following recent violence.

Over the weekend, eight separate shootings left two people dead and 11 injured. Demonstrators, joined by comedian Bill Cosby, gathered at Weequahic High School on Chancellor Avenue Tuesday to demand action from the governor. Demonstrators want Corzine to create a blue panel commission to look into the violence and come up with solutions. Cosby has been traveling the country and talking to parents about getting involved in their children's lives.

The group also blasted both the state and local government?s lack of action on the broader picture of violence so far. Some speculate leaders are ignoring the problem because many of Newark?s residents are low-income, black individuals. However, many demonstrators hope Mayor-elect Cory Booker will take quick action to help stem the rising tide of violence in the community.

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