Hundreds of people took to the streets of Auburn Gresham on Friday for an annual anti-violence march organized by St. Sabina Catholic Church, among them entertainers Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson and Will.i.am, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and survivors of the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla.
At a rally before the march, people held signs demanding changes to gun laws and memorializing those lost to gun violence. Many wore shirts saying “Enough is enough,” a message echoed by some of those who spoke.
“Something is happening across this country,” the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina told the crowd. “Young people are rising up, from the north to the south, to the east, to the west. They are taking action.”
As darkness fell over the South Side, Hudson led the crowd in singing “Amazing Grace.”
The march came on the final weekend before classes end for Chicago Public Schools students, the start of what leaders of the South Side church say is the most dangerous time to be a young person in Chicago.
The rally was the
“Four million people in this country turn 18 this year,” said Jammal Lemy, 20, who graduated from Parkland’s Douglas High in 2016 and lost two friends in the Valentine’s Day shooting. “We have the opportunity to empower the youth and to push a voter registration drive.”
Youth leaders from Chicago are also to be part of the Road to Change initiative, among them Roseland resident Trevon Bosley, 20. He is part of the youth-led violence prevention organization Bold Resistance Against Violence Everywhere, or BRAVE.
“People do think that no one is fighting for change,” Bosley said. “The reality is there are a lot of people fighting for change. You just don’t always see them on the news.”
As of last Sunday, 1,138 people had been shot this year in Chicago, and 213 killed, according to Tribune data. Though these totals are smaller than in previous years, they still concern the city’s youngest activists.
Bosley said he is happy both the Parkland students and violence prevention organizers across the country have been able to meet, collaborate and jointly advance their priorities.
The night was not without friction. A man who said he was from Joliet attended Friday’s event carrying a large “Make America Great Again” flag. “I’m here trying to engage with people,” the man said. “We’re all in this country together.”
As he spoke to a reporter, Malcolm London, 25, of Austin, snatched away the flag. After a brief exchange, the man from Joliet left, without his flag.
“Young black people die every day because of the symbolism of white nationalism that is Donald Trump,” said London, wearing the seized flag around his neck. “I refuse to be disrespected by calling his opinion a conversation.”
Others said they looked forward to more dialogue with those who shared their agenda for a safer city.
“If you’re about what I’m about, if you wanna change the world around you, come out,” said 14-year-old Onastashia Baker, who is part of the young women’s mentoring group Giving, Empowering, Mentoring, Self-identity, or GEMS.
“These kids have to live this reality everyday,” said Lemy, who was marking his first visit to Chicago. “This has been their world forever. … We’d be doing our purpose an injustice if we didn’t include as many groups as possible.”
PREVIOUS ARTICLE
