Vigil tonight in Long Beach to combat recent wave of violent crime

Long Beach ministers, community leaders and the family of a man killed in a shooting Monday night will hold a vigil tonight to launch a campaign aimed at combating violent crime.

The vigil will begin at 7 p.m. at Rosa Parks Park, at the coer of Alamitos Avenue and 15th Street, and will feature members of the Long Beach Ministers Alliance, Los Angeles Civil Rights Association, city officials and the family of Delhaun Jackson who was shot to death nearby Monday night.

The gathering will also serve as the launch of a violence interruption project called #awaken with three goals:

• Activate the community to engage existing violence prevention processes and mechanisms currently being provided through he city and private sectors.

• Become more articulate regarding the authentic needs of their particular community for policing, support, employment and housing.

• Champion and mediate proactive conversations between potential violence perpetrators.

Organizers hope #awaken will spread to all impacted communities in Long Beach and encourage anyone interested to attend tonight’s vigil.

More to come.