Chicago Peace Marcher: 'Be A Drum Major For Justice'

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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --  Despite the bitter cold, more than 100 people gathered at St. Sabina Church on the Far South Side Monday evening to march for peace in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King.

Chicago artist Maxwell Emcays was among those who gathered in the cold and unveiled a wall with the names of 587 victims of gun violence last year.

        

He said he hopes the wall will be displayed somewhere in downtown Chicago so that more people can see it.

Father Michael Pfleger called upon Illinois' new governor, J.B. Pritzker, and whoever becomes Chicago's next mayor to address what he calls the "root causes" of violence, including poverty, bad schools and mental health issues.

Renee Taylor was among those who walked for about an hour in the cold. She told WBBM that these marches can make a difference.  

"Yes, we stay together and we vote and keep moving and praying and keep marching. Be a drum major for justice."

New art work commemorating victims of violence, peace walk at Saint Sabina on 78th Place in honor of MLK day to follow. ⁦@WBBMNewsradio⁩ pic.twitter.com/uKFmBmrihn

— Terry Keshner (@tk9710) January 16, 2019

Deputy Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Holt, whose 16-year-old son Blair was shot and killed in 2007, was among those who gathered in the winter night.      

"Dr. King didn't represent this. He represented non-violence, and we should look at his life and model our lives after his and do something, not just give lip service but do something to change what's going on in our country, this epidemic of violence,” Holt said.

When marchers reached the Chicago Police Department's Sixth District station, they offered condolences for officers killed in the line of duty and thanked police for their service.