March remembers the nearly 800 victims of Chicago’s gun violence in 2016
CHICAGO -- Hundreds of people marched on Saturday on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue carrying crosses representing murder victims in the city, CBS Chicago reports.
On the crosses were the names of nearly 800 people lost to street violence in 2016.
Those carrying them -- some family members, others strangers -- stretched for about a city block. The only sound was the reading of each name.
Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Chicago priest, organized the memorial.
“The reason we’re on Michigan Avenue is because this is a Chicago problem,” Pfleger said. “And until everybody in Chicago decides it’s their problem we’re not going to end it.”
The Chicago Police Department said in a statement early on Sunday that 2016 witnessed “an unacceptable rise in violence.” There were 762 murders, 3,550 shooting incidents and 4,331 shooting victims in the year alone, the department said.
The rise in violence is similar to increases in other major cities nationwide including San Diego, Boston, San Antonio, San Jose, Austin, Memphis and Indianapolis, the department said, citing reports from the Brennan Center for Justice and the University of Chicago Crime Lab. Attacks on Chicago Police Department officers nearly doubled last year, which also reflects nationwide trends, the department said.
Officers made 10 percent more gun arrests in 2016 than in 2015, and they recovered 8,300 guns -- a 20 percent increase from the year prior, the Chicago Police Department said.
Pfleger said he hopes Saturday’s visual will put others into action to prevent violence in 2017.
“The last day of the year we will remember all of who’ve been shot and killed in 2016 (and prior),” Pfleger said in a statement. “We want to break the cycle of violence for 2017!”
Before the march, Kelly Fitzgerald Clark found a cross with the name of her late husband. She cried as her son waded into a sea of crosses and retrieved it.
“We thought nobody cared,” she said. “I lost my husband in February. Homicide. We didn’t know it was going to be like this.”
She looked over the crosses stretching into the distance and said it was “unbelievable.”
Greg Zanis, of Aurora, made the crosses, each standing about 3 feet tall and bearing a name of a person shot and killed in Chicago last year.
“I just want to tell everybody my heart’s broken for you,” Zanis said. “I don’t know what else to do but I did a little bit of work for you guys.”
After the march, the more than 760 crosses were to be placed in a vacant lot on the city’s South Side.
The rally took place as loved ones mourned the loss of Yuri Hardy, one of the latest shooting victims. He was shot Wednesday night in the Austin neighborhood while on his way home from a dance competition and died Friday morning.
Family and friends held a candlelight vigil Friday night to remember the 19-year old, who was an honor student at Urban Prep Academy and expected to graduate in June, Hardy’s sister told CBS Chicago. Hardy’s dance team also performed in his honor on Friday night.
“Yuri was an amazing kid, he died doing what he loved, dancing,” said Kenyatta Horton, Hardy’’s sister. “He was excited about going to prom, he was excited about going to college.”
Chicago police said they are investigating the shooting, but so far, no one is in custody.
Since Hardy’s death, at least one other person died in gun violence -- and more than a dozen people were wounded. One man died and 21 others were injured in shootings on New Year’s Eve and on January 1, Chicago police said, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Police said they have plans for fighting violence in 2017.
“The Chicago Police Department will be implementing a series of initiatives that aim to reduce violence, increase the capability of our police officers, and build public trust,” the department said.
The strategy involves district-based intelligence centers and emphasis on creating a culture of accountability for repeat violent offenders. Nearly 1,000 officers will also be added to the Chicago Police Department by 2018, among other measures, the department said.
“The challenge we face as a city is serious, and like other cities it is significant,” Superintendent Eddie Johnson said. “We will be adding to our police department, we are committed to partnering with residents, we will benefit from the investments being made by the Mayor, and if we come together and work together I know we can turn the tide in 2017.”