A march against gun and knife violence will by staged by residents in Liverpool 8.
The event was sparked by the recent shooting of a 15-year old schoolgirl as she stood waiting for the bus on Upper Warwick Street,Toxteth. It will take place on Saturday March 26 leaving from Tiber Square on Lodge Lane, Liverpool 8 at 2.30pm.
Angered by another shooting organisers of the march say residents "should be able to go about their lives without fear." People will gather from 2pm and march through Liverpool 8, passing Upper Warwick Street, the scene of the shooting, and will finish at Berkley Park about 3.45pm.
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Speeches will be made by members of the community about issues faced in Liverpool 8, across the city and nationally.
A spokesperson from the march organisers told the ECHO : "As a community, we’re coming together as we have done before to send a message that guns are not welcome in our community. We want it stopped. Our elders, children, and grandchildren should be able to go about their lives without fear. They should not be worrying they will get caught up in another tragic senseless shooting”.
They added: "In June 2017 Yusuf Sonko was shot and killed whilst standing with a group of friends. Nobody has been charged with his killing and there have been many more shootings and unfortunately deaths by people using guns".
"Concerned parents do not want to see any more families caught up in grief, hurt, anger and fear that guns bring to the streets. A Liverpool 8 resident said: "The rise in gun crime on the streets of Liverpool has been a source of anxiety for me as a parent to three boys and the recent gun and knife attacks in the community are a great cause of sorrow.
"Why youths are so keen to be excessively violent baffles me. I truly believe that developing a stronger, more attentive community is the only way to make our streets a safer place."
Laurence, a community activist said: "I will be attending next week's event, but I'm desperately aware that we need more than marches. We need communities to organise so we can provide activities for our young that can be used to actively steer them away from situations and behaviours that lead them into crime, violent or otherwise.
"Marching is not going to stop our young from killing each other or innocent bystanders. If we do not devise a programme to address these issues directly then we will just be marching again the next time someone is gunned down, as we have done in the past.
"People need to be willing to sacrifice their time and resources to actively address issues our young face and provide them with constructive alternatives. I hope next week's march will be a catalyst for those who attend to get more involved in and committed to community activism."
Chase, a concerned father said: "I attended the gun and knife march a couple years ago and we need the public to express themselves. Too many incidents occur and the more the community stands together the more we can fight this".
Erroll, a dad-of-three said: "Gun crime is destroying our community and it's a shame to see the young people today throwing away their lives when Black people have made such improvements in equality diversity because of the Black struggle in this country.
"It's a shame our youngsters are resorting to barbaric behaviour when we have come such a long way to obtain our freedom and equality and to be a voice to be reckoned with. This is not what our ancestors fought for and we do not want to see our youngsters go down the drain in such a manner. This March is very important for the awareness of young people. Put down the guns, put down the knives and stop the violence".
