By Daily Press staff
In light of the recent shootings in an eastside Santa Monica neighborhood, residents are rallying together to promote peace.
A peace march is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. and was spearheaded by Oscar de la Torre, founder and director of the Pico Youth & Family Center.
The event is designed to bring awareness to youth violence and show how agencies within the community can help bring peace, unity, respect and hope.
In the past month there have been five gang-related shootings — all occurring within a few blocks of each other. No injuries resulted. However, a May 9 shooting resulted in a stray bullet penetrating through two walls of a home on Michigan Avenue before landing in a bedroom.
Santa Monica police have arrested six people who are allegedly connected to the shootings. More suspects are being sought.
The event will begin at 3 p.m. at Virginia Avenue Park, following a route through the community areas and ending at First A.M.E. Church By the Sea.
Scheduled to speak at 4 p.m. are NAACP Branch President Darrell Goode, de la Torre, Santa Monica Malibu Schools Superintendent John Deasy, Irma Carranza from Mothers for Justice and Rev. E. Keith Richardson Sr. The church is located at 1823 Michigan Ave.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 7, 2003. Read the original PDF.