MOM, OTHER GROUPS TO OPPOSE VIOLENCE

Connie Jackson knows first-hand what havoc street violence can wreak on a
family's life.

Her 21-year-old son, Jamie, was murdered two years ago.

So she formed Mothers Opposed to Murder, and yesterday joined with a
citywide contingent of community leaders, children and various law
enforcement agencies to announce a march to eradicate drugs, guns and
violence in Philadelphia.

Violence "tears a family apart," she said at a news conference at Police
Headquarters at 8th and Race streets.

"It destroys whatever you have in your family. This march will help so they
won't have to go through what we went through."

On Saturday, Oct. 2, beginning at 11 a.m., members of the newly formed
group, "Philadelphia Making A Difference Against Drugs, Guns and Violence,"
will march from Police Headquarters to City Hall and then on to Memorial
Hall in Fairmount Park.

The event will be kicked off the night before by a youth rally at Robin Hood
Dell East, where Philadelphia rap star Eve will perform.

"Every citizen in Philadelphia and every community has finally joined forces
to show we're united against drugs and violence," said Deputy Police
Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.

Police Commissioner John Timoney called on lawmakers in Washington to
support gun control legislation that recently passed the Senate but is being
weakened by the House.

Among other things, the bill would close the gun-show loophole that allows
people to buy guns at shows without going through a background check. He
said the march will show lawmakers how serious residents are about reducing
violence.

"It's an important gesture to show this has to end," he said. "This march is
about empowering the people of Philadelphia," added Manwell Glenn, special
assistant to Recreation Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis.

Glenn said the city will have a job fair at Memorial Hall after the march to
show people how to put resumes together and will have a strong emphasis on
voter registration.

A Tent of Hope will also be at Memorial Hall that will have information
about various drug treatment facilities, said City Drug Czar Lillian Ray.

"We're looking to have 100 beds available for those who might need it," she
said. "We want to service the community people that have been really hurt
[by] the drugs and shootings and all the violence that has taken place in
Philadelphia."

"This is not just a one-time thing," Johnson said.

Police will attend more community meetings than they already do to hear the
concerns of residents, he said. Representatives of different law enforcement
agencies will visit all of the schools to discuss drugs and violence.

Members of Mothers Opposed to Murders, whose members all have children who
were slain, will also visit the schools and talk about how violence has
affected their lives, Johnson said.

"It will send a message to whoever is elected mayor that to the citizens of
Philadelphia this is a major concern," Johnson added.