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‘We’re tired of losing our loved ones’: Young Philadelphians rally against gun violence

As of last week, the number of people murdered in the city is the highest it’s been since 2007.

  • Ximena Conde/WHYY
Sarai Ford marches with a group of young people calling for an end to gun violence.

 Emma Lee / WHYY

Sarai Ford marches with a group of young people calling for an end to gun violence.

(Philadelphia) — A group of young activists plans to march 4.5 miles through Philadelphia Monday, demanding an end to gun violence, which has escalated as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into the summer.

The demonstration, which will move from Center City to North Philly, is a call to action aimed at city leaders and residents.

“We’re sick and tired of this. We want a peaceful summer,” said Darrien Johnson, a 22-year-old Strawberry Mansion native and one of the organizers. She was one of about 20 people who gathered in LOVE Park for the start of the rally, despite a heat health emergency and temperatures forecasted to approach 100 degrees.

“We’re tired of losing our loved ones to the hands of senseless violence,” Johnson said.

As of last week, the number of people murdered in the city is the highest it’s been since 2007. The number of shooting victims stands at 998 people, a 33% increase from the same time last year.

“We have to do that internal work in our community, so we are able to address the injustices that plague us at large,” said Johnson. “This is our city and if we want to see a difference, then it starts with us.”

City leaders, however, are not off the hook. Johnson said protesters demand prosecutors communicate better with families who await justice for their loved ones who’ve been killed.

The demonstration plans to stop at Broad Street and Erie Avenue, where a poet will read a piece while performers reenact the murder of someone’s son. The final stop will be at Hunting Park, where protesters will release balloons to remember those lost to gun violence in recent years.


WHYY is the leading public media station serving the Philadelphia region, including Delaware, South Jersey and Pennsylvania. This story originally appeared on WHYY.org.

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