On Saturday, May 18, hundreds of people gathered at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) to march for peace in Back of the Yards.
Mothers for Peace, a group formed by mothers that organized themselves and came together 19 years ago to demand peace in the streets coordinated the annual march with local organizations. PBMR, Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council (BYNC), Light in the Night, the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition and Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and many more attended in support of their mission and message.
The march has grown more throughout the years.
PBMR’s Executive Director Fr. David Kelly kicked off the morning with a short message and blessing. “We are your hosts, but we’ve broadened our reach into the whole community and the whole city of Chicago. We gather together to honor mother’s in particular; this is a mother’s march they’re the focus and they’re our strength. So we really want to honor them and lift them up and let them know we walk beside them.”
The march started 11 years ago as a result of mothers who were losing their children to incarceration and senseless gun violence. These mothers gathered looking for reconciliation and healing. Another one of the founding principles of the march was the tragic death of Leticia Barrera, who was three months pregnant. She was a victim of gang violence and was shot in the head on Halloween night while she was near her home with her
children trick-or-treating. This tragic event left the Back of the Yards community in a state of despair and brought mother’s together with the same hope for peace and reconciliation and hope to end gun violence.
As more people trickled into the parking, President and CEO of BYNC, Craig Chico welcomed everyone with a message of unity.
“After today let’s not just forget what it’s all about, let’s not forget this feeling, let’s not forget the friendships that we’ve made here and the connections that we’ve made here. Let’s use this to build on and work towards a better Chicago, better community and better all of us.”
Mainstream media portray pictures of South and West Side communities that aren’t complete. Often, important context on how neighborhoods help each other and organize to bring people together for a common cause is missing in stories.
Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) expressed that the march started 11 years ago because a family was grieving but said it is not a tradition that should keep reoccurring.
“That is one tradition we need to break in Chicago. Families should not have to grieve for the loss of their children, for the loss of their moms, for the loss of their family members, that is something we can do without because we can be a city that doesn’t kill each other,” said Lopez. “We can be a city that lets kids live in the city of Chicago and today our moms continue that fight. Our moms continue to show the rest of the city that we will not be defined by violence, that our mom’s know best. They are here long after politicians like me have come and gone. A mom’s love is eternal.”
City of Chicago’s new Mayor, Lori Lightfoot was in attendance and shared a few words with families, before taking on the road to march front and center alongside mothers who led the march. She thanked everyone in attendance along with the organizers for the moment.
“Everything that happened that day is deeply etched in my mind,” she said, referring to her attendance of last year’s Mothers for Peace March. “What I think was most remarkable of all about the march is the coming together of the mothers, not only of the mothers who have suffered from the loss or injury to their children but also the mothers of individuals who are responsible for the violence. The grace that these mothers have found together, that grace really, I think is an example of what we need to do as a community and heal.”
The mayor said that often, these crimes are crimes of poverty and people feel left out and disconnected from the legitimate economy. In which she plans to work hard to create safe communities and have real economic development in neighborhoods like Back of the Yards.
Marina Alonzo, the President of Mothers for Peace, thanked everyone during the first stop along the march route on Loomis Blvd and 49 st.
“There’s a lot of us and a lot of you that have lost family members, friends, nephews and nieces and we are here for them, to speak for them,” she said. “I’d like to thank each and everyone for always looking out for our children who are on the street who [is] playing who may be having [don’t] have a role model. Please, hold them, talk to them. Let them know that there is a big world out there and they can do anything they want to and become anything they want to and just ask for help and be there when they do.”
The march went from 51st and Loomis Blvd to 47th and Damen Ave and back to PBMR up 51st. Where everyone came together to enjoy hot dogs and music as they shared stories and reflections about their experiences.
Mothers, Aldena Brown and Sakena Barnes sit together and enjoy hotdogs on a picnic bench. Brown said the walk signifies strength to her. “Moms that have lost a child to gun violence or family members, I know they have to hurt and just to be persistent and show their resilience every year, rain or shine, you know I admire that.”
For mothers who are sitting alone in their hurt, Brown and Barnes say to come to Precious Blood and join their mother’s circle, a circle that gathers once a month at PBMR and is dedicated to healing in community with mothers who have lost their kids to violence or incarceration.
As Uptown Funk plays from a distance, Barnes adds loudly, “Don’t give up! Get out and get some resources, get some help!”