Organizers plan first anti-crime march of 2016

JACKSON, Tenn. — Not even a month into the new year, the city of Jackson already has seen three homicides. Just in the past two nights police have investigated armed robberies at two separate convenience stores.

City leaders and community members fed up with the violence are joining together in the first anti-crime march of 2016.

“This is the community I grew up in,” Jimmie Baylor said of her east Jackson roots. She says she has been marching in anti-crime marches for more than 20 years. “You don’t leave it, you know. You don’t disconnect from it ever.”

Keanna Mays said she has seen violent crime her whole life and has experienced it first hand.

“My daughter lost her father to violence and now I’m left to raise her alone, and I just think it should end,” Mays said.

Mays said she also lost her cousin in 2015 to violence.

“It’s our city. Many people say we should stop our violence and put the guns down,” Mays said. “But what are you doing to help? Come out and help. Show your support. Your voice matters.”

Councilman Johnny Dodd is organizing the first anti-crime march in 2016 for 5 p.m. Friday.

“We are having our anti-crime march, something we have been doing for more than 20 something years,” Councilman Dodd said. “The year has started out pretty rough. We had three murders this year. A lot of crime is going on, and we just want to bring the people together.”

“This is truly what community reinvestment is,” Baylor said. “You don’t have to be a businessman. You don’t have to have financial dollars to invest your time.”

March organizers are also asking marchers to bring pictures of their loved ones lost to violent crime.