LINCOLN PARK — An upcoming vigil against gun violence is being held in one of Chicago's most affluent neighborhoods that isn't often touched by the epidemic: Lincoln Park.
Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, 600 W. Fullerton Parkway, is hosting the vigil beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Rapper Che "Rhymefest" Smith, who recently made headlines after he was robbed at gunpoint on the South Side, will be there as part of his series of "truth and reconciliation" meetings throughout the city.
“Unlike some other neighborhoods, vigils in affluent Lincoln Park are rare,” the Rev. Beth Brown, Lincoln Park Presbyterian’s pastor, said in a prepared statement.
“It is considered one of the city’s safer neighborhoods which means people who live here don’t have to get involved in the healing of our city. When people hear I am a pastor in Lincoln Park and that my congregation is very concerned about social justice, they say to me, ‘Good luck getting people in Lincoln Park to care.’"
Brown went on, saying her experience has been "the opposite."
"We have tremendous assets here in Lincoln Park and my hope is that we will begin offering and using our assets as though it were our children being killed."
Brown said the purpose of the vigil is to remember the victims of gun violence, spread awareness and come up with long-term solutions.
“We have great people and resources in and around Lincoln Park and the problem of violence is one we all need to be involved in solving," she said. "We refuse to accept that it is a South Side or West Side problem."
Though Lincoln Park very rarely sees shooting deaths, the neighborhood has seen a number of armed robberies and other attacks lately. Citing a "disturbing uptick in crime," Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) is now calling for more police manpower in the neighborhood.
In the latest incident, a woman was knocked down, kicked and robbed while walking on Wrightwood Avenue last week.
The vigil, which is sponsored by the Passion Project of Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, is free and open to the public.
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