Anti-gun crusaders in city march

Nov 19 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

ANTI-GUN campaigners marched on Liverpool to bring people out against gun crime and claim back the city from violent gangs.

Victory Outreach, who have backed the Daily Post and Echo’s Liverpool Unites campaign, organised the rally for Saturday to show gangs that people will not tolerate gun crime in the city.

In dramatic scenes, supporters marched two miles into the city centre in silence – to represent the walls of silence that surround gun crime.

With reformed gang members who have seen the light among their number, the last Victory Outreach Stop The Violence march took place through the tough streets of south Los Angeles and they hope to make a mark in Liverpool.

Pastor Basil Reynolds, of Victory Outreach, said: “It’s our aim to highlight the issue of guns and the culture that surrounds it but also to present an answer to our city.

“We don’t usually think of history as being shaped by silence but that is what surrounds gun violence.

“As philosopher Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’.

“The time has come for us to break down the walls of silence and fear that surround gang culture and say we stand against the violence and bring a message of hope to a generation spiralling out of control.”

Marchers met in Botanic Road, by the Botanic Park, Edge Hill, at 11.30am before walking to the rally at the Wellington Memorial.

Among the number were Paula Ogunboro and Marie Kelly, from Mothers Against Guns.

Both women lost sons to gun crime and now campaign against fire arms.

Mrs Ogunboro believes her family are as much victims of gun crime as the son she lost almost four years ago, when he was 25.

She said events like this were important in showing gangs that people and communities will stand together and not be fearful.

Eugene Ogunboro was shot twice with a sawn-off shotgun after a row at a house party in Toxteth, in November, 2003.

Robert Davies, from Wavertree, is serving 14 years for the killing.

Mrs Kelly’s son Liam Kelly was shot at point-blank range as he got out of a car in Grafton Street, Dingle, during the early hours of June 19, 2004.

He was aged just 16.

carolineinnes