Hartford has seen a dramatic rise in homicides this year. Twelve people have been killed so far since the start of 2015 -- more than twice as many as this time last year.
On Saturday, the Reverend Al Sharpton joined a march and rally in Hartford, calling for peace in the wake of this violence.
The demonstrators marched along Garden Street, ending at Shiloh Baptist Church for an event called “Stop the Violence and Cease the Killing.”
Strong Anti Violence March and a overflow crowd at the rally in Hartford. We must deal with gun violence.
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) June 6, 2015
Sharpton, a well known civil rights activist and television host, told the crowd that the Hartford community needs to come together.
According to a story published by CT News Junkie, not everyone was please with Sharpton's attendence.
“How dare you ask the people of Hartford to give you their money,” Pastor Marcus Mosiah Jarvis of Christ the Cornerstone Praise and Western Tavernacle yelled at Sharpton as he made his way down the center aisle of the fully-packed church. “You’re nothing but a pimp,” he continued, referencing the request made by the previous speaker that every pastor and preacher donate $100 to Sharpton’s nonprofit civil rights organization.
Sharpton responded by donating $1000 to a memorial for those who have died.
This report contains information from the Associated Press. Charlie Smart is a WNPR intern.
