AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/violence/page/3/)
Join Austin residents, businesses, neighborhood groups and the faith-based community tonight at 6 p.m. – and every Wednesday throughout the summer – to unite against violence. Meet at any one of six Austin corners as part of the 100 Blocks/100 Churches initiative.
Rev. Ira Acree and David Cherry, co-chair and president of the Leaders Network, say everyone must work together to reform and reimagine policing in our communities.
Father Michael Pfleger called on elected officials to stop the finger pointing and reconnect with local residents to successfully fight Chicago’s gun violence.
The march will kick off at 10 a.m. in the 4900 block of West Chicago Avenue. Ald. Emma Mitts, Congressman Danny Davis and Chicago Police Supt. David Brown will lead the march.
“We need mental health support to match the police deployment on the South and West sides of Chicago,” writes state lawmaker La Shawn Ford. He believes in the public health approach to violence, which sees violence as preventable not inevitable.
Fresh Start Fathers, the Greer Family and Austin residents will hold the 13th annual anti-gun violence prayer vigil from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Lotus Avenue and Congress Parkway. Since 17-year-old Marcus Greer was killed in 2008, an annual prayer vigil has been held in his memory to speak out against gun violence.
An online, interactive exhibit called The Sisterhood explores ideas of grief, justice and healing through photographs and vignettes written by mothers who have lost a son to gun violence. The stories of 11 Chicago area women are shared in the free exhibit created by Unsilence.
No questions will be asked at the Aug. 8 event at Hope Community Church, 5900 W. Iowa. People who turn in a gan will receive $100, while those who bring a BB gun, air gun and replicas will be given $10 per weapon.
Free screening and linkage to care is available at the Westside Community Triage and Wellness Center (WCTWC) at 4133 W. Madison. Walk-ins are welcome, or residents can call the 24-hour crisis line at (773) 745-2610. “If people are feeling sad, depressed or hurt I urge them to take advantage of the free mental health support,” said state Rep. La Shawn Ford.
People gathered for a rally to remember a toddler and 13-year-old who were killed in separate shootings over the weekend in Austin. They were two of more than 100 people injured or killed in shootings in Chicago over Father’s Day weekend. Faith leaders and community groups are offering a $13,000 reward for information leading to the person who killed 3-year-old Mekhi James.