From the Yakima Herald-Republic Online News.

Posted on Saturday, September 12, 2009

Hundreds take to streets against gangs
By MAI HOANG
Yakima Herald-Republic

 

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A march and rally against gang violence held Saturday could become an annual event, organizers said.

About 225 people participated in the Day of Hope walk and rally, according to estimates from the Yakima Police Department.

Participants walked from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park, where several government officials and anti-gang violence organizers encouraged participants to take action against gang violence by showing support for legislation in Olympia or encouraging their peers to consider alternatives to gangs.

Several city and state officials were at the event, including Attorney General Rob McKenna, who was one of the event's speakers.

"I believe this event sends a message that the community is taking action," he said in an interview after his speech. "(It) shows young people there is an alternative to hopelessness or gang violence."

Indeed, the rally help pump up attendees such as Kristina Gamet, 19, of Yakima.

"Violence is getting worse in Yakima and it needs to stop," she said. "I feel like I am supporting a good cause."

Yakima police Chief Sam Granato stated the importance of helping young people find alternatives to gangs. Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches, both emphasized their work in passing anti-gang legislation in Olympia.

The rally and march was also a source of healing for co-organizer Tammy Masters, who lost her son, Mordeice "Mo" Adams, 18, in a shooting more than a year ago. She and others wore shirts with his picture on it during the march and rally.

"This is a way for me to honor him," she said. "I will do whatever it takes to fight against gang violence."

Lew Cox would have been proud. Cox, founder and executive director of Violent Crime Victim Services in Tacoma, worked with Masters in the aftermath of her son's death.

He believes that having victims' families participating in events such as these does not only aid in the healing process but also helps the community realize the importance of the issue.

"It helps connects to the community at large that there are people suffering because of gang violence," he said.

 

* Mai Hoang can be reached at 509-577-7685 or mhoang@yakimaherald.com.

 

 
Serenade King, 7, center, reaches for a sign held by Brittany Thompson while Jesus Navarro adjusts her hair and Arthur Thompson, third from left, looks on as people gather at Millennium Plaza to participate in the Day of Hope march against gang violence.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
Serenade King, 7, center, reaches for a sign held by Brittany Thompson while Jesus Navarro adjusts her hair and Arthur Thompson, third from left, looks on as people gather at Millennium Plaza to participate in the Day of Hope march against gang violence.
Tammy Masters, center, helps blow up balloons for the Day of Hope march she organized to speak out against gang violence while Renee McElrea, left, and Lissett Alcala, right, help out. Masters' son, Mordeice Adams was shot and killed 2008 and his friends and family showed up in his memory to march against gang violence.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
Tammy Masters, center, helps blow up balloons for the Day of Hope march she organized to speak out against gang violence while Renee McElrea, left, and Lissett Alcala, right, help out. Masters' son, Mordeice Adams was shot and killed 2008 and his friends and family showed up in his memory to march against gang violence.
Trevon Evans, 7, has a balloon tied to his wrist by his mother, Tamara Evans before the Day of Hope march against gang violence.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
Trevon Evans, 7, has a balloon tied to his wrist by his mother, Tamara Evans before the Day of Hope march against gang violence.
Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna speaks to the crowd before the Day of Hope march against gang violence.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna speaks to the crowd before the Day of Hope march against gang violence.
The Day of Hope march against gang violence went from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
The Day of Hope march against gang violence went from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park.
Participants in the Day of Hope march against gang violence walk along Yakima Ave. on their way to Miller Park.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
Participants in the Day of Hope march against gang violence walk along Yakima Ave. on their way to Miller Park.
Jayanna Briggs, 1, is held by family friend Kristina Gamet as they walk along First St. in the Day of Hope march against gang violence. The march was organized by the mother of Mordeice Adams, who was shot in 2008, and Gamet says she lost one of her closest friends with his death.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
Jayanna Briggs, 1, is held by family friend Kristina Gamet as they walk along First St. in the Day of Hope march against gang violence. The march was organized by the mother of Mordeice Adams, who was shot in 2008, and Gamet says she lost one of her closest friends with his death. "It's not right that someone should take someone else's life," she says, adding that it's been a violent year in Yakima so far this year.
After marching from Millennium Plaza, participants in the Day of Hope march against gang violence wait for the speakers to start at Miller Park.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
After marching from Millennium Plaza, participants in the Day of Hope march against gang violence wait for the speakers to start at Miller Park.
The Day of Hope march against gang violence went from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
The Day of Hope march against gang violence went from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park.
Breawna Masters, who's brother Mordeice Adams was killed in 2008, stands in front of a banner carried by marchers as they walked through Yakima for the Day of Hope march against gang violence.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
Breawna Masters, who's brother Mordeice Adams was killed in 2008, stands in front of a banner carried by marchers as they walked through Yakima for the Day of Hope march against gang violence.
Felicity Corbray smiles as she holds up a banner that marchers carried during the Day of Hope march against gang violence that went from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
Felicity Corbray smiles as she holds up a banner that marchers carried during the Day of Hope march against gang violence that went from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park.
The Day of Hope march against gang violence went from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park.
SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republ
The Day of Hope march against gang violence went from Millennium Plaza to Miller Park.