7. Marching for Safer Streets

There was a march through the Boyle Heights of Los Angeles. The march was sponsored by coalition of local organizations and agencies. The purpose the march was to bring awareness to the in the community. Many people have been killed of gun violence and other crimes.

The march at 9 a.m. on a busy corner. Many brought their children to the march. The crowd to walk down the neighborhood sidewalks. Occasionally the would stop, and an organizer using a bullhorn tell the story of a person who was . After the organizer told the story, there would a prayer followed by a moment of silence. were relatives of people who had been killed in the march. Some of these relatives would lit candles, balloons, or flowers in remembrance of persons who died. One woman who died was in the lake of Hollenbeck Park. Police suspect her boyfriend killed her. She had a baby . Her ex-husband participated in the march and asked organizers include her in their prayers.

The march for 20 blocks, and ended at Wabash Park. the march was somber, the mood inside the was more celebratory. Different organizations had booths with about local programs. There was a craft table kids to draw picture about the kind of they wanted to live in. Different bands played speakers offering solutions to the neighborhood's problems.

On same day there was another march at a housing project. In the spring, four houses were . Police suspect the attacks were racially motivated. Organizers to hold the march again next year. They hoped though that conditions in the neighborhood would so they wouldn't have to march, though.