GARFIELD PARK — People who live on a Garfield Park block where seven people were shot Friday — one fatally — held an "Operation Wake Up" rally Monday night to speak out against the violence.
"That's not normal. That isn't what you deserve," Glen Brooks, a local community policing coordinator, told the crowd assembled. "Nobody deserves to be shot in the streets of their neighborhood. This isn't talking about the problem. It's about getting involved."
At 8:18 p.m. Friday, a group of people were standing together outside in the 3300 block of West Maypole Avenue when a black car drove past and someone inside fired shots, police said.
The shooting left one man dead and six other wounded, police said.
Monday's rally was held in the middle of Maypole and drew residents, elected officials and CAPS officials, who urged people to sign up to help them bridge to gap between the community and the police.
Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) told the crowd he was putting some of the blame for the heartbreaking gun violence in the city on himself and other elected officials.
"We as a city and as elected officials, in some respects, have failed you," Ervin said. "This block has been too bad, too rough, for too long. Darkness and light cannot be in the same place and the same time."
The rally garnered mixed feelings from residents of Maypole. Some said no amount of meetings will stop the amount of gun violence until the systemic issues in their community have been addressed.
"There's no playground around here. There's no tennis courts. There's nothing for them to do," said Johnnie Reed, a Garfield Park resident. "Why can't they use some of the land around here and build a playground? Or a recreation center for the boys to show them how to become men? That is needed. It is so needed."
Harrison Police District Cmdr. Kevin Johnson made a plea to the family members of the people who were wounded in the shooting.
"Just know we're here with you and this community is here with you," Johnson said. "This violence is unacceptable. I'm going to speak in plain terms here: We cannot sustain this violence. We need to work with the police. Work with your neighbors and elected officials. Make a difference in your community."
Crystal Torres, who moved into the neighborhood five years ago, said she seen such a decline in the quality of life that she no longer allows her children to play outside. But she enjoyed the overall message of the rally.
"I think this is good because something needs to done. I don't let my kids play outside. That night, they woke screaming because of the shots," Torres said. "It wasn't that bad when I first moved over here. People hung out, but killing people?? My son witnessed a murder. He's a little kid. He didn't need to see that."
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