'Thou Shall Not Kill Motorcade' Planned To Protest Violence In Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Community leaders and at least a dozen Detroit-area funeral homes are planning to participate Sunday in vehicle procession seeking a day of peace in the city.
Organizers have scheduled a Friday news conference at Church of the Messiah on Detroit's east side to discuss details of what they're calling the "Thou Shall Not Kill Motorcade and Rally."
Planned participants say they are tired of the senseless gun violence plaguing city and "fed up with children caught in the crossfire."
More than 300 vehicles are expected to take part in the motorcade that will leave the Grand River and Livernois area around 4 p.m. Sunday and end at King High School where a youth rally against violence will be held.
The procession will feature multiple hearses, with victims' families following behind.
This event comes after a string of child-involved shootings in Detroit that prompted Police Chief James Craig to announce a crackdown in an effort to "take back the neighborhoods."
A 3-year-old girl was fatally shot when gunmen stormed her home on Easter Sunday, and a 6-month-old girl sitting in a stroller in her yard, and a 4-year-old boy was shot and injured while riding his bike. His father was killed.
In 2012, then-Detroit Mayor Dave Bing proclaimed the 22nd of each month as "No Violence Day in Detroit" — an effort sparked by concerns about homicides and other violent crime.
Chief Craig has said he'd not a big fan of protests and rallies, calling on residents to instead keep their eyes and ears open, call in tips, and support neighborhood policing.
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