May 24, 2012
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- One community is standing up and speaking out against crime and violence, after some recent events left neighbors in fear.
Charleston's West Side often times gets a bad reputation, known for drugs and violent crimes.
According to 2010 crime statistics recently released from the Charleston Police Department, the city saw 11 murders, six were on the West Side.
Multiple shootings have occurred in recent weeks on that part of the city.
People have been on edge for months, sparking some area churches to do something about it.
Rallying together, businesses, churches and neighbors were marching for a purpose Saturday.
"It's going to take an all out effort from everybody," Rev. Robert Davis said. "We're all in this community and we just have to come together and realize that it's going to take all of us to make this thing happen."
Organizers of the "March for Hope" say they want to be part of the solution to push crime and criminals out of the community.
Charleston Police joined to show their support as a large crowd of signs, voices and area residents filled the streets.
The planned route took them past locations of murders, violence and other familiar crime scenes.
Organizers hope neighbors will take a more active role in their community and see the march as a visual sign to defeat crime.
"A lot of times people just sit there and say well it's going to happen, it's going to happen," Elston Canada said. "We have to change that and when we see things coming into our community we need to speak up."
Police say a lot of the crime stems from just a few individuals or groups, many not even from the Charleston area.
Chief Brent Webster says police are only a short term solution and having more of the community involved in neighborhood watch groups will only help keep crime from occurring.
The community hopes it shows its strength in numbers and willingness to make a change.
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