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Melting Pot Party: North Park's block party celebrates San Diego's diversity

After a week of conflict and controversy across the U.S., one local community is coming together to send a message of acceptance.

SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) – Coming together to celebrate diversity was the message of a block party Friday night in North Park – which took on new meaning after the violence in Virginia.

Some are hoping that last weekend’s deadly clash between white supremacists and counter protesters in Charlottesville can be seen as a wakeup call for unity.

On Friday night, a stretch of El Cajon Boulevard was transformed into a melting pot of different cultures to promote inclusiveness.

The block party had been planned for months, however, after recent events, it took on a different meaning.

Someone who is making a difference in the community is Lloyd Grant. To many, he was just selling Jamaican food, but for Lloyd, it was all heart.

“I wish it could happen more often [that] people can just put aside and come together,” he said.

Lloyd further said that what happened in Charlottesville weights heavy and he is praying communities nationwide will wake up.

“Try to learn to forgive and forget. Sometimes just think about the future,” he said.

Organizers said showcasing the melting pot of businesses along El Cajon Boulevard is what BLVD Market is all about.

El Cajon Boulevard has been divided over the years, but events like Friday night’s and with small businesses spurring up, San Diegans are starting to recognize it and it is becoming the heart of the community.

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