Maywood residents and leaders unite to champion peace, end gun violence – Chicago Tribune

Maywood residents joined religious, political and business leaders in front of Maywood’s Fred Hampton Act on Sunday afternoon as they rallied for peace and an end to gun violence.

An audience of about 100 people, including Maywood Mayor Nathaniel Booker, U.S. Congressman Danny Davis, and Mothers of Murdered Sons founder Phyllis Duncan, spoke about the traumatic effects of gun violence and how residents feel about it. talked about how they can take action and step up. I have information about a crime.

The rally, hosted by the Rotary Club of Maywood Proviso, came just three months after the murder of the former Marshall High School. Basketball player Diane “Dede” RaineyThe 22-year-old parked her car in the driveway at her house on 6th Avenue and Walnut Street when she was mortally wounded.

Rainey’s murder investigation remains unsolved.

Booker said the basketball star was one of more than 30 Maywood residents shot dead since 2020.

“I’m seven years old this year and I still have work to do before I hit zero,” he said.

Booker said the village has made some progress in the last 14 months by hiring more police officers, introducing license plate readers, increasing public safety meetings and securing funding for youth violence prevention programs. It says.

Booker said he wants everyone involved in the rally to be “participated and involved”.

“A lot of the time when we do these kinds of gatherings, everyone pats themselves on the back and they go home and come back. We’ll be back next year, but we’re not trying to do that,” Booker said. increase.”

Laney’s mother, Margo, and twin sister, Mianda, stood next to David Scott, a Maywood business owner who offered a $5,000 reward for information about an unsolved murder.

Scott said he was directly affected by gun violence when he was shot during an attempted robbery in 2000. He was paralyzed from the waist down.

“I don’t know this family. Today is the first day I meet this family,” said Scott. “However, with the permission of our mayor and police chief, we are offering a $5,000 reward for the information and conviction of those responsible for this violence in our community.”

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He then led the crowd and chanted, “If you know anything, tell me something.”

Duncan from Mothers of Murdered Sons was joined by several other mothers from the group. Some of them offered Margo Rainey a hug.

“In the last 16 years working at Proviso Township, I have witnessed over 100 murders,” said Duncan. “If love could have saved our children, they would have lived forever.”

Davis said it was inspiring to see everyone come together.

“That’s what the community is made of,” said Davis. “I’m looking forward to working with all the moms I work with.”

At the end of the rally, the participants held hands and formed a circle. At the center of the circle, 30 doves were released into the air as a symbol of peace and to commemorate those killed by gun violence.

tatturner@chicagotribun.com