WOODLAWN — Hundreds of South Siders, including family, friends and neighbors, gathered Wednesday evening to memorialize Dillan Harris, the 13-month-old boy who died after being run over while in his stroller.
Antoine Watkins was charged Monday for hitting Dillan while fleeing South Shore, where rapper Marvin Carr, aka "Capo," had been gunned down moments earlier.
Local political and religious leaders took turns addressing mourners in the 6300 block of South Ellis Avenue, where Dillan was struck Saturday. While the baby wasn't the direct victim of a shooting, several speakers took the opportunity to denounce the culture of violence on the South Side.
"We need to hold people accountable to the actions that are taking place in our community," said 20th Ward Ald. Willie Cochran. "Support your community, support one another, support your leadership, and we'll make it a reality that we'll change the shootings and the murders and the domino effect that has taken this baby's life."
At the end of the event, the crowd released hundreds of blue and white balloons, many of them covered in loving messages for Dillan and his family. People clapped and shouted, "We love you, Dillan!" after they let the swarm of balloons float into the sky.
Sharah Beard, Dillan's great-aunt, said she and the rest of the family were grateful for the support the surrounding community has lent them. But the mourning ritual, she said, was beginning to feel like a depressing déjá vu.
"We're tired of the RIPs, the teddy bears, the balloon releases. We just want protection, we want to be able to get back to living a normal life," Beard said before the ceremony. "We can't be letting these thugs overpower the police. We just thank God that this [crime] was solved, but look at what it took — it took this baby's life just for it to be solved."
At the end of the ceremony, the crowd released hundreds of balloons in honor of Dillan. [DNAinfo/Alex Nitkin]
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