Clergy, activists gather to pray, demand change amid spike in gun violence

One by one, people stood in front of the crowd to denounce the rise in gun violence and demanding more be done by city officials.

News 12 Staff

Apr 10, 2022, 10:31 PM

Updated 912 days ago

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It was a somber gathering on East 188th Street in the Bronx on Sunday as clergy members and activists came together to mourn, remember and pray for the lives lost over the past week. 
Juana Soriano de Perdomo, 61, was shot and killed April 4. Angellyh Yambo, 16, was caught in a crossfire while walking home from school on Friday.  Arrests have been made in both cases.
One by one, people stood in front of the crowd to denounce the rise in gun violence and demanding more be done by city officials. 
They are asking for the city to figure out ways to ensure their children will grow up in safe positive environments, so they will not feel the need to turn to violence. 
Those in attendance say the only way to keep everyone safe is to improve education and public safety. Councilmember Pierina Sanchez says enough is enough. 
“We need to make sure that we come here and bring opportunity,” says Sanchez. “This is a crisis of opportunity that we have in this community – a crisis of mental health.”