HYDE PARK — Mothers Against Senseless Killings, also known as the "Army of Moms," spent the weekend recruiting volunteers for next year.
“July is coming, June is coming ... we have to be in front of it, rather than letting it roll over us as it usually does,” group organizer Tamar Manasseh said, referring to the typical uptick in violence in the summer months.
“We can’t wait. Instead of fighting against it when it gets here, we need to keep it from ever showing up. We have to get in front of it and be more proactive.”
A fed-up Manasseh formed the group in June to patrol the neighborhood where she grew up after the murder of 34-year-old Lucille Barnes in the 7500 block of South Stewart. She now lives in Bronzeville but said her roots are in Englewood.
She and other mothers hoped to stop any retaliatory violence on Stewart and nearby streets after Barnes' death.
Men Against Senseless Killings and Hyde Park Kenwood Residents for Safer Chicago joined her on Saturday in Hyde Park at Bixler Park, 57th Street and Kenwood Avenue. They recruited 63 new people for summer neighborhood patrols.
Throughout the afternoon, as people walked by, Manasseh would stop them and ask if they hate gun violence. She also held a pink sign over her head that read: “Honk if you love hot coco and hate gun violence.”
Colleen O’Leary has lived in the community for 28 years. She said she supports the group’s mission.
“They’re just so bold and so brave, so admirable,” she said.
O’Leary is a part of Action for Gun Sense in Illinois and said it’s going to take everyone’s combined efforts to make a difference.
“I think women can do anything, but it’s really wonderful that men are joining in too. We have to just be one voice on this," O'Leary said.
Marissa Washington signed up Saturday. She believes change can happen if everyone works together.
“It’s going to take the whole community getting involved and staying involved in the kids’ lives,” she said, “and showing them that we care as a group because it takes a community to raise a child.”
Manasseh said she was pleased with the support the groups received. They expanded their patrol from Englewood to Hyde Park because residents asked them to come help.
This wouldn’t be the first time the mothers' group was requested. They set up on a new block back in October. Manasseh said she can’t say, “No.”
“We all live in this city and what happens in Englewood can happen in Hyde Park, and it has happened in Hyde Park,” she said. “It can happen in Lincoln park, it can happen on the Gold Coast, it can happen anywhere.
Manasseh said she never imagined the movement would grow the way it has, but now that it’s working, she’s going to keep growing it.
“It turned out to be something much bigger, and here we are in December,” she said. “I’m still saying the same thing. We have to save lives. That is the most important thing.”
Her goal?
“I envision it being a city blanketed with pink shirts. That's what I see because for every pink shirt, it’s a mother showing love. It’s someone showing love to the community and to the children in the community.”
To learn how to get involved, visit www.getbehindthemask.org.
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