Community members march through Pittsburgh, calling for end of gun violence

PITTSBURGH — Singing, chanting, and praying while walking from Homewood to East Liberty, community members gathered in the streets to call for peace and unity on Good Friday.

“On Easter, we look at that as the resurrection day. So, we’re looking at the resurrection of the community,” said Rev. Cornell Jones with House of Manna church.

Jones helped organize Friday’s “We Are The Village” walk. He was joined by members of House of Manna church, Black Political Empowerment Project, the Neighborhood Resilience Project, and other organizations to promote the idea that it takes a village to end gun violence.

“The police do their part, the outreach workers do their part, but to really impact the community, it’s all hands on deck,” said Jones.

Chief Scott Schubert and other Pittsburgh police officers joined the effort.

The department has responded to 20 homicides this year.

“We’re all together,” said Schubert. “We have to be. It’s not just the police and the community. We have to be as one. If we really want to help all of our communities, everybody has to be invested into it, not just one or the other.”

Across all the city’s neighborhoods, these groups say they’re ready to bring resources and positive change.

“As tough as it looks right now, we’re going to resurrect from this violence right now,” said Jones. “We’re going to be victorious. We’re claiming that.”

To view the resources available from these groups, click here.

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