On Saturday, community members on Chicago’s West Side gathered for a peace walk and basketball tournament to promote unity and combat gun violence, highlighting their message with live brass band music. Talei Thompson, of the Westside Block Club Association, led the march, emphasizing the importance of creating a safer environment during the summer months, especially in light of recent violence that left four people shot in the neighborhood.
Despite a reduction of nearly 50% in murders since 2021, organizers like Dr. Bryan Ramson stress that community disinvestment remains a challenge. “This is a citywide initiative in our African American communities,” Thompson declares, as efforts for positive change culminate in a weekend-long basketball tournament aiming to foster peace through sport. The community’s resilience continues to shine as they commit to ongoing efforts to diminish gun violence.
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