COMPTON — Despite a 50 percent drop in homicides since 2005, the Pastors of Compton Coalition called for unity Saturday as they gathered on the field of the Jackie Robinson Stadium at Gonzales Park for the annual Compton Unity Fest.

“One thing I’m all about is the unity of our community, of every color,” said resident of 30 years Gwen Patrick. “Compton is extremely diverse, not only do we have over 60 percent Latino but we have of course African-Americans, Samoans, Pacific Islanders [and] Caucasians. We really have a good mix.”

At times that good mix can go sour, she said adding that “there has been a lot of tension, not only with gangs but that there are some personal issues going on, [too].”

The Unity Fest, which featured games, food, a jewelry station, gospel groups, praise dancers, two jumpers, an inflated slide, a dunk tank, a face painting station and a small train for children, was hosted by actor and comedian Tommy Ford and headed by Bishop Richard Sanders of Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church along with pastors from Citizens of Zion, Mount Pilgrim, Victory Outreach Church, Faith Inspiration, Jericho Baptist, Greater Zion, Zion Baptist Evangelistic Temple, Our Lady of Victory and Holy Chapel in an attempt to bring awareness to racial tensions taking place in local neighborhoods.

But the call may have come too late for two Compton Unified School District students who were gunned down nearly two weeks ago in the 1400 block of South Temple Ave., in what authorities are calling a gang-related incident.

Roosevelt Middle School student Draysean Earl, 13, was shot in the back of the head and died later at the hospital. Andrew Peppers, a 16-year-old Dominguez High student, died at the scene.

Eduardo Arellano, a youth minister and Compton resident of 5 years, said unity is “needed because there are a lot of killings going on and there are a lot of young people in the city that think that because maybe the people before them —- the gangs, their older brothers, their peers — were out here killing each other with the Hispanics and the Blacks.”

Also a member of W.I.T.H. (Welcoming Intervention to Healing in Compton), he said, his organization tries to take unity into the schools.

“We organize a group of ex-gang members and ex-drug addicts and people from my past,” Arellano said. “I came from a pretty messed up past,” he added as he pointed to what appeared to be knife wounds along his forearms. “We are able to bring a live testimony to the kids and let them know that we are not outsiders coming in trying to teach them something, we are people from the hood, people that have grown up here and have seen that. We tell them we need to learn to live in peace if we are going to make it in this city.”

Former Compton Resident Robyn Davis of 30 years, who now resides in Inglewood, said Saturday’s meet-and-greet Unity Fest has been long overdue.

“It is a great thing, you have people from different backgrounds coming together for the community saying ‘we have to turn this city around,’” she said. “Thirty years ago people used to know their neighbor, people would know whose kid was whose and we have gotten away from that. I think it’s awesome that they [the pastors] are trying to bring that whole connection back within the community so that people get to know each other and know what’s going on. That really builds a strong connection.”

Which is why former resident and W.I.T.H. member Joyce Ervin, who was born and raised in Compton but left six years ago, is taking “Unity” to the streets later this month.

On May 30, W.I.T.H. will host a “Unity Walk-a-Thon,” beginning at 10 a.m. at Lueders Park, 1500 E. Rosecrans Ave.

“I feel like Compton is still my city and I can’t wait to move back,” said the Citizens of Zion member. “We complain about what’s going on in our streets. If you don’t like what’s going on out there, then maybe you need to take some light to that darkness. It’s just that as people we need to take back control of our streets.”