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Apr 27, 2008 9:22 pm US/Central
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Anti-Violence Activists Take To Streets For Youth
Two Males Shot While Exiting Bus
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Members from 10 churches gathered Sunday for a prayer vigil, which took on added meaning when a 14-year-old boy and a 36-year-old man exiting a bus near a church were shot in the Far South Side's Roseland neighborhood. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports on their effort to stop the violence.
Chicago police say a 15-year-old boy and another person were shot at the corner of 113th Street and Edbrooke Avenue around 3 p.m.
Both victims were taken to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn.
The pair are in critical condition Sunday night. Their names have not been released.
Just a few miles away, at the same time of the shooting, at least 200 people were protesting that very kind of street violence – violence that has left more than 30 children dead this school year alone.
"Our youths are dying younger and younger these days," said one protestor.
Pastors, activists, and parents, some with very young children in tow, under signs that say: "we want to live" say they're committed to taking the streets back.
The leaders of several area churches say they will start opening their doors after school to give kids somewhere to go.
"We have all come together to create safety zones around these churches and create gang truces so there will be no dope selling, no violence around the place so if a child was to come in and get off the street – this is our commitment," said pastor James Dukes of the Liberation Christian Center.
But even these pastors know that's just one step in an otherwise long road to peace.
"We're not depending on other people to come into our community and take over our community," said Bethlehem Star Church pastor Roosevelt Watkins. "We know that we have to do what needs to be done."
Over the last nine days, more than 30 people have been shot. 10 died.
No one is in custody for Sunday's shooting. Calumet Area detectives are investigating.
The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
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