Mayor Emanuel joins hundreds to remember 263 slain children

 

By Chinta Strausberg

 

Chicago, IL – Joining hundreds who attended the Urban Dolorosa’s memorial honoring 263 children who were caught in the cross fires of gun violence, Mayor Rahm Emanuel late Tuesday night told the diverse audience at Saint Sabina Church that the parents of these victims will never be alone.

Speaking to an interfaith coalition of churches and organizations that attended the first of five Urban Dolorosa memorials, Mayor Emanuel told the grieving parents, “You are not alone” and that “there are people in this church and in this city” who will there for them.

The mayor told of recently calling a mother whose son was shot on Halloween night. “We will be a strong city, if we’re one city” and one he said will never forget the children who were murdered. Emanuel said Chicago would also be there for the grieving parents.

Minister Kimberly Lymore, associate minister at Saint Sabina, also gave her condolences and support to the parents whose children were killed. She spoke of the different groups that are associated with Saint Sabina like the Purpose Over Pain coalition comprised of parents who lost their children—groups she said were “birthed out of their pain.”

The living multi-cultural Urban Dolorosa memorial, which means The Sorrowing City, included Spoken Word Pastor Brenda Matthews, better known as “Mama Brenda” as she spoke and led children to the altar of remembrance where the youth had built a shrine for 263 comrades who were victims of senseless gun violence.

Shoes of the deceased children were placed along the aisles and were later collected by a singer who placed them at the altar of remembrance where youth had built a shrine for their lost loved ones. Pictures of the deceased lined the altar…memories and pain filled the darkened church as the audience watched a film of the faces of children whose names many had forgotten.

Rev. Susan B. W. Johnson, author of Libretto (Lyrics) and executive director Urban Dolorosa, spoke about honoring the memories of the children and with the music, singing and direction of a number of talented musicians like Father Vaughn Fayle, OFM, composer and music director, Dr. Keith Hampton, conductor and choral director of the Chicago Community Chorus, Cicely Perry Jackson, director of the Choral Program at the Johnson College Prep and associate conductor of the Chicago Community Chorus, Jade Maze, Mezzo-Soprano soloist; Khary Laurent, baritone soloist and many others, the names of the 263 students were read aloud with dimmed lights and dramatic music and singing in the background.

Led by the children holding lighted candles, the congregation poured out of Saint Sabina and marched around the block singing “Pour out your heart like water for the lives of your children—let justice roll down like waters righteousness like an ever flowing stream….”

The following are similar Urban Dolorosa events:

* Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. (Downtown)

First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple

77 West Washington Street, Chicago

* Thursday, November 3, 2011, at 7 p.m. (West Garfield Park)

New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church

4301 W. Washington Boulevard, Chicago

* Friday, November 4, 2011, at 7 p.m. (Back of the Yards)

Holy Cross/IHM Parish

4541 South Wood Street, Chicago

* Sunday, November 6, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. (Hyde Park)

Hyde Park Union Church

5600 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.