Miami Gardens Residents Rally Against Crime
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Hundreds of people came together Saturday in Miami Gardens for a march and prayer service to send a message to criminals.
Enough is enough.
In the last few months there have been several high profile murders in the city and community leaders say it's time for everyone to step up to combat crime.
"We have the entire christian community against crime protesting pleading to god to heal our land for the violence taking place in our communities," said Pastor Arthur Jackson with Antioch Church.
The family of 12-year old Tequila Forshee came to honor the little girl who was shot in a drive by while sitting in her grandmother's living room having her braided for her first day of middle school.
The family of the late Tyrone Walker and his 70-year-old grandmother, retired minister Annette Harris, took part. The pair was tied up and shot multiple times.
"We know that we are not alone," said Trenae Smith, a relative of Walker and Harris, "It's happening to everyone."
"We are sick and tired of the senseless gun violence," Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton told the crowd.
Fulton, a resident of Miami Gardens, called for an end to the killings.
We're tired. We're sick and tired of losing our children," said Fulton.
Despite the recent murders, including one less than 24 hours before this march and prayer event, Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert said crime in the city is actually going down.
"We've actually decreased crime but even one murder one person's child, one person's brother, husband, is too many," said Gilbert.
Those who attended the rally were told that the key to stopping the crime was to join forces, not only at events like this, but every time a crime happens in their neighborhoods. They add that the "no-snitch" mentality has to change if they want a real change in their city.
