BACK OF THE YARDS — Priests, police officers, teens and young children gathered near the site where two officers were shot and wounded in Back of the Yards for a prayer vigil Wednesday afternoon.
The vigil for peace, which began with a community prayer around 4 p.m. in a parking lot at 43rd Street and Ashland Avenue, was to show the communities support for its police officers after the Tuesday shooting, organizers said.
"For too long in our city, too many young people and too many old people are living in fear. We are tired of living in fear. ... We stand wih the police [and] we call on the community to stand together.," said the Rev. Manuel Dorantes, pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. "This city needs to cry. This city needs to mourn."
Two plainclothes officers were working in their car near that corner at 9:10 p.m. Tuesday when one or two cars pulled up next to them and people inside fired "indiscriminately" at the officers, police said.
One officer was hit in his arm and hip and the other was hit in his back, police said. They were taken to Stroger Hospital and released Wednesday.
"It's just another example of how dangerous this job is," said Supt. Eddie Johnson after the shooting. "And I think people take it for granted that when police officers come to work every day, they put their lives on the line every single day they get in their car."
Cmdr. Stephen Chung, of the Deering District, thanked the crowd who gathered Wednesday afternoon and said the wounded officers were grateful for the outpouring of support.
"I have spoken to [the wounded] officers and they are in good spirits," said Chung, adding that one of the officers was "mildly sedated" in preparation for an examination when they spoke, but both were now at home with their families.
Giovanni Felix, a high school senior, said his intention Wednesday was to pray not only for the officers, but also "those falling as targets to the violence."
"We are united and [want] to work together to keep peace," he said.
The community hoped the vigil would send the message that the shooting Tuesday doesn't reflect the community. They also asked that the rest of the city stand with them to support the officers.
"Enough of this indifference," said Dorantes. "We want to make sure the message is clear: This doesn't reflect our community."
To get to the root of the violence facing Chicago, we also need to listen to those perpetrating it, he said.
"The killing needs to stop for our kids and for ourselves, but we need to remember the people who are shooting are humans, too. We need to listen to their stories. ... What is it in our society that we aren't giving them?" he said.
