757 meets 804 at League for Safer Streets championship as Hampton Roads and Richmond unite

RICHMOND, Va. — A Hampton Roads basketball team traveled to Richmond Saturday to compete in the League for Safer Streets ninth annual championship game — and brought a message of community and survival with them.

The event, billed as the "Battle of 64," brought together teams and residents from the 757 and the 804 at Liberation Church off Midlothian Turnpike. National celebrities including Allen Iverson attended alongside community activists, athletes and residents united around a message that went far beyond the final score.

"We're bringing the streets together — 757 and the 804. We are talking about the battle of 64," said Cheyja "Chey Butta" Andrews.

For nine years, the League for Safer Streets has used its championship game to deliver a message of survival, resilience and community. Community activist Prince said the event is rooted in something real.

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"This is what we're doing for real. This ain't no gimmick. This ain't no show. We're not putting on for someone to come into the building. I don't care what your position is, but the real celebrities to me are everybody sitting in one of these seats," Prince said.

Prince said the work is personal and the goal is simple.

"This is about saving lives, about crying mothers, fathers being separated from their children, and I'm just thankful and blessed because I know this works," Prince said.

King Bacot, the number one ranked player in the high school basketball class of 2029, also attended and said he hopes his presence inspires younger kids to make better choices.

"I feel like I'm a big influence to the kids, so if they see me, they might wanna come here and get away from the bad stuff going on," Bacot said.

For attendee Keyon Henderson, the message hit close to home. Henderson said he lost a friend to gang violence and sees himself in the event's mission.

"Most people feel like they're alone in certain situations. Today somebody could be going through something, someone could be going through neglect, all that. I've been through all that, and I pushed through it at the end of the day and now I'm here today to stand on my own two feet," Henderson said.

Attendee Josiah Hill said the event serves a simple but powerful purpose.

"If you're in here, you're not out doing something dangerous, so it definitely is a great way to bring the community together and keep people safe," Hill said.

The League for Safer Streets says it plans to continue growing the movement one person at a time.