Anti-Drug, Anti-Violence March Set for June 22nd in North Philadelphia
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The "One Day at a Time" drug and alcohol recovery program today announced plans for an anti-violence and peace march next Saturday, June 22nd, along Lehigh Avenue in North Philadelphia.
Today, a couple of dozen supporters turned out for the announcement, made outside the Mount Peace Cemetery on Lehigh Avenue.
The cemetery created a grim but sadly appropriate setting for the peace march announcement. One speaker, a woman, said she had lost a teenage daughter to a drive-by shooting.
And the violence is often tied to drugs. Another speaker, 47-year-old Ted Herring (far left in photo, in blue baseball cap), has paid the price.
"Drugs got me shot, once in my head, twice in my neck," he said today. "I was shot, laying on the street to die. Nobody cared about me because I was dealing drugs, doing all the wrong things. Drugs never gave me anything. It always taking away from me."
It took away 22 years of his life to a prison sentence. But now, free and in recovery for a year, Herring promotes a better way.
The "One Day at a Time" march will take place next Saturday, June 22nd, from Broad and Lehigh to 24th and Lehigh.