and Mayor Nutter Offers Award

J. Smith-El Hispano

    On the heels of this spate of violence that has besieged the city in the first month of 2012, a march and rally of nearly three hundred youth- ranging in age from thirteen to early thirties- strode down Allegheny Avenue with a police escort, Saturday,  chanting “Got That Love, Got That Hope, Got That Peace.” 

 “It’s Our City,” was the cry of marchers, as Al Rodriguez of the “Royalty Racing” club said, “There’s too much killing of kids out here.’

    The rally was largely organized by staff members of two Latino educational institutions, Aspira of Pennsylvania and Esperanza Academy, along with the Royalty Racing club.

    A teacher and coach at Esperanza Academy, John Grone, noted that the march was entitled “Lighting the Streets,” and was intended to remind youth of the importance of traditional values.

   Both Ray Velez and Marta Sierra of Aspira echoed that sentiment: “We wanted to do something positive,” said Mr. Velez. “Mayor Nutter and the police have done their part. But it’s now up to the parents and all of us to do our part to end the violence and bring hope.”

   The rally ended at John B. Stetson Charter School, where families gathered to hear a variety of educators, writers, dancers and singers who sought to underscore the positive message of the need for traditional values and “hope.”

    A Latina singer of music with Christian themes, Michelle Bonilla, delivered a similarly uplifting message, singing, “In the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge.”

     “To every criminal out there, I just put a $20,000 bounty on your head,” declared Mayor Nutter at a press conference from Strawberry Mansion. While bolstering the funding  for information leading to the arrest and conviction of murder suspects, the Mayor also proposed to increase police overtime and to establish an anonymous tip line that would allow for texting information.