(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Around 200 elementary school students staged a march for peace Wednesday morning in the North Lawndale neighborhood.
The Daniel Webster School students had a police escort as they walked for about a mile in their community and passed a couple of the busiest streets in North Lawndale—Roosevelt Road and Pulaski Road. The children chanted, "We want peace!"
Seventh-grader Damiya Hayward was among the students.
“The peace march is a good thing because it’s, like, making more people knowledge why we’re out here.”
This was the third year Webster students have marched for peace. Principal Khalid Oluewu, sometimes known as Mr. O or Principal O, says it was a response to a student being killed by gun violence.
“This was advocacy on part of our students wanting to leave their imprint on a community in terms of what changes they wanted.”
Shannettea Joseph was one of the parents who walked with the children.
“This is phenomenal for the kids, considering the fact that Chicago has been plagued with a lot of violence over the summer. It gives them a creative outlet to speak their piece,” Joseph said.
Marching for peace shows the community the children want to live and grow up, she said.
The signs had messages like, “Children Have a Voice,” “Stop the Violence,” and “Walking In Peace Together.”
Parent Joseph Epting has a daughter in 3rd grade and took part in the walk.
“I think it sends great message to the community with what people want to do in the area. They do want to take the neighborhood back, as far as crime is concerned.”
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