Stop the Violence march set for Saturday in FCity

Organizers of a march planned for Saturday hope the event will bring awareness to an increase in violence in Forrest City.

A Stop the Violence March is being organized by the Forrest City Police Department.

Over the past year, four people have been killed in the city with many others injured in incidents involving deadly weapons, according to FCPD Chief Deon Lee.

The police department is also seeing an increase in random shootings where residences and vehicles have been hit by bullets, particularly in the Beech Grove neighborhood. “We are having an issue with violence in Forrest City,” Lee said.

According to Lee, members of the police department will be joined by area residents, businesses and churches in the march, which is scheduled to kick off with prayer before participants leave Mustang Arena.

From the arena’s parking lot, marchers will travel to Victoria Street where they will turn onto McAdoo, traveling one block to Roosevelt. On Roosevelt, marchers will turn east and head to Traylor where they will march into the Beech Grove neighborhood, traveling along several streets there, before ending the march at the Civic Center. Lee said there would be a couple of speakers at the Civic Center once the marchers arrive.

According to Lee, the Beech Grove neighborhood was chosen as the focus of this march due to an increase in shootings – at people, residences and vehicles.

“Last year we had four murders and several first-degree battery charges due to people being injured by gunfire or some other type of weapon,” said Lee. “We’ve had several houses and vehicles shot up, too.”

Lee said people need to realize their actions have consequences. “When that bullet comes out of the gun, you don’t know where it’s going.”

Marchers are encouraged to bring signs with them urging an end to the violence plaguing the city. Participants are asked to begin lining up at 10:30 a.m., at Mustang Arena on the high school parking lot, with the march beginning at 11 a.m.

“Show support for the police department, show support for our community, show awareness of what is going on and that you’re concerned about what is going on in your neighborhood,” said Lee. “The response has been good so far. It’s encouraging to see all of the different organizations willing to step in and try to help.”

Although the main focus of this march is on the Beech Grove neighborhood, Lee said he would like to see the marches take place a few times each year.

“We’re hoping this will not be a one-time deal. We would like to try to do it quarterly or regularly throughout the year depending on what is going on in our community,” he said.

Anyone who wants to participate in the march, or has questions regarding it, should contact the FCPD at 870- 6333434.