NATCHEZ — Elected city leaders have heard the citizens’ cry for a safer community and are ready to try everything from prayer to community meetings to find a solution.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen decided at Tuesday’s regular meeting to have a work session with local bar and club owners before their Oct. 25 meeting to discuss measures that can be taken to curb violence and end further bloodshed on the city streets.

The vote came four days after the city’s third murder in two months.

Ward 4 Alderman Ernest “Tony” Fields sent his condolences to the family of the latest murder victim, Cedric M. Morgan, and called on Natchez youth to end violence.

“I want to ask my young African-American brothers to stop this senseless violence that’s going on in this town,” Fields said as a few people from the crowd shouted ‘amen.’

Fields said there is a problem with loitering in his ward on weekends and asked police to break up any loitering crowds they see on the streets.

“If they’re not inside an establishment, break it up,” he said.

Ward 2 Alderman James “Rickey” Gray said he has been in talks with several concerned citizens about the city’s crime problem. One thing Gray said all the citizens agreed on is a prayer day for the city.

“It’s praying time, y’all,” he said.

Gray said he will be working with citizens and preachers from local churches to coordinate the prayer day.

Fields said he believes prayer is a powerful tool, but he believes faith must be accompanied by work.

“It’s time for it to stop,” Fields said. “We live in a good community and a peaceful community, it does not need to turn into anything else.”

Fields said the meeting is not an attack on bar or club owners.

“This is a meeting to see where we are and where we need to go from here,” he said.

Fields said after the meeting that though the scheduled work session was for club owners, he thinks other establishments open late at night may become a part of the discussion.

Fields said the latest murder was a wake-up call.

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said a local walk against violence is also being planned.

Jackie Marsaw said the walk will be Oct. 29. She said there is a meeting at 6 p.m. today about the walk at Judge Mary Toles’ house at 200 Bluebird Drive.

Marsaw said she encourages anyone interested in the walk to attend.

“I’m inviting every organization, churches and all to walk,” Marsaw said.