Chicago Pastors, Advocacy Groups Advocate for 'No-Crime Day'

Summer festival at Palmer Park seeks to unite community, reduce violence

Photo byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

CHICAGO – On Saturday, a summer festival featuring food, music, games, and performances by the Jesse White Tumblers brought residents together at Palmer Park on the Chicago's South Side. The event aimed to foster a positive community atmosphere and reduce violence in the city.

Geri Jones, executive director of Chicago's St. Titus One Youth Anti-Violence & Mentoring Program, emphasized the community's desire for safety and well-being. "People want to live, they want their children to live, they want their teenagers to live," Jones said. "It's important that we do everything we can to create a positive community environment."

This gathering was one of several hosted by a coalition of Chicago pastors from "Pastors Organized with Equity and Respect." The group is advocating for a "no-crime day" in Chicago, relying on their faith to inspire change. Pastor Michael Jones of St. Titus One Missionary Baptist Church stated, "If we can affect one person, then we've fulfilled our mission."

Young participants from Hood Heroes, a summer jobs program in Chicago, helped set up the event. The initiative calls for unity in neighborhoods such as Englewood, Burnside, South Shore, and West Pullman. Amber Nyece Whitelaw expressed a sentiment shared by many, "The fact that we have to tell people to stop everything bad shows we need to come together and be one."

Recent data from the Chicago Police Department reveals that 335 people have been murdered in the city this year. While this is a decrease compared to the same period in 2023, residents believe even one murder is too many.

"Unfortunately, Chicago still faces significant violence," Angela McClain said. "Today is a good day to ask everyone to stop—if you can't stop forever, can we have at least one day without gun violence?" McClain recounted the loss of her brother Carlos, who was shot and killed 32 years ago at the age of 17. "I was only 12 when it happened, and it still affects my mom and our family," she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by others at the park, who are eager to see further reductions in violence. "We want to move the needle to another level. Yes, the numbers are going down, but we want them to decrease even more," Jones said. "No life should be lost senselessly."

As families enjoyed the festival, organizers expressed hope for lasting peace in the community. "If we keep pushing, one day we will achieve a reality where there is no violence, where people love and stop hurting each other," Jones concluded.