NEW YORK, NY August 17, 2007 —African-American and Latino community leaders in Newark are trying keep this month's triple murder from creating racial tension. We get more from WNYC's Bob Hennelly.

REPORTER: Councilman Luis Quintana says the City of Newark can not let the murders of three African American college students allegedly by a group of Latinos claim casuality----the historic close ties between the two communities. Former Councilman Raz Baraka says the extensive media coverage and speculation could create a climate of mistrust.

BARAKA: We have to dismantle it from the beginning before it turns into something we can not deal with or handle.

REPORTER: On September 9th the coalition will hold an ethnic food celebration in Weequahic Park and than convene a Black and Latino conference to identify a common agenda for the future? For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.