ENGLEWOOD — Mothers Against Senseless Killings, the army of Englewood moms also known as MASK, is expanding its territory this weekend and looking for more troops.
Tamar Manasseh said the group was asked to set up in the 5300 block of South May, which it will do on Saturday and Sunday from 3-7 p.m.
"MASK wasn't formed to be what it has become, but as the saying goes, 'Man plans, God laughs,'" she said. "We've had to switch up a little bit. We've been asked to help, and since this affects us all, we can't say no."
A fed-up Manasseh formed MASK in June to patrol the neighborhood where she grew up after the murder of Lucille Barnes, 34, in the 7500 block of South Stewart.
Manasseh, who now lives in Bronzeville, and other mothers hoped to stop any retaliatory violence on Stewart and nearby streets. The community knows them as the "army of moms."
This weekend, the mothers will once again put on their signature pink T-shirts and bring out the lawn chairs and barbecue grills. Manasseh said the mothers will meet the residents on that block and the surrounding blocks. She said she wants the community to know they are surrounded by love.
"It is our hope that we can start building relationships with the residents in that area to help empower them and send a message to all of those who come to destroy everything," she said. "We hope to uplift. We can't do this alone. It's going to take all of us to save us."
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