South Philly Residents March, Pray for Peace

What began as a vigil soon turned to a rallying cry for peace among South Philly residents fed up with a seemingly countless stream of violence.

That violence has affected both the old and the young, including 2-year-old Aasiiyah Owens.

Aasiiyah, along with her 10-year-old brother Siyair Owens, 59-year-old grandmother Andrea Pointer and an unnamed 25-year-old man were all victims of a shooting on Tuesday on South Bucknell Street in the Point Breeze section of the city.

Police say a fight between high school girls escalated into a shootout which wounded the four innocent bystanders. While Siyair, Andrea and the unnamed man were released from the hospital, Aasiiyah remains in a hospital bed.

“She’s still on a breathing machine but we expect her to make a full recovery,” said Kenya Mason, Aasiiyah’s godmother. “Prayer, much prayer, much power.”

It was just one of several violent incidents in South Philadelphia within the last few days. On Wednesday two separate shootouts occurred within five blocks of each other on Tasker Street, resulting in two people dying and four being sent to the hospital.

With all the recent gun violence, residents have had enough and are calling for change.

“If we don’t have the courage to step up and start turning in the tyrants that don’t care about our babies then we have no one else to blame but ourselves,” said a community leader during Friday’s gathering. “We all know who’s doing the shooting.”

The residents marched from Wharton and Bucknell Streets all the way up to 32nd and Tasker, holding candles and praying for peace.

“It’s tiresome,” said Terrez McCleary. “All the parents here in South Philadelphia, we have to get together and do something about the violence that’s going on. It’s very sad.”

Among the marchers was Gary Pointer, husband to Andrea and grandfather of Siyair and Aasiiyah.

“Adults, we have to start listening,” said Gary. “Go to the kids, talk to them. Hopefully the kids will learn from us.”

Community leaders are offering a $12,000 reward to anyone with information on Tuesday's shooting. Police currently have no suspects.