As the sun set on the city on June 5, the first full day of summer vacation for Chicago Public School students, people gathered in front of the steps of St. Sabina Church for the kickoff to the parish’s annual weekly peace walks.

For nearly 20 years, Father Michael Pfleger has led the Friday evening walks in an effort to reduce violence  when kids are out of school.

The June 5 walk began with a rally on the church steps featuring community leaders and elected officials. Participants, many of them wearing matching blue T-shirts with the words “Peace Takeover” emblazoned on the front, then walked through the Auburn Gresham neighborhood escorted by police.

Well-known Chatham native Chance the Rapper was the last speaker at the rally and sent the participants out to walk. 

Acknowledging the “teen takeovers” that have happened in the city, which have often resulted in violence, arrests and shootings, Pfleger called on those gathered to be agents of change in the community and in their homes.

“Brothers and sisters, we know about teen takeovers,” he said. “We love our children, but we want to do a peace takeover so our children can live to fulfill every dream, every purpose and every destiny God has for them. So tonight we are calling for a peace takeover in Chicago to make our communities safe and strong and vibrant.”

Establishing peace in the city requires good schools, economic development, active churches and strong block clubs, he said.

It also requires being connected to neighbors, he said.

“This is not the time to stay in your house,” Pfleger said. “This is not the time to be overwhelmed. This is not the time to be afraid. This is the time to get out on your street, get out on your block, get out in your neighborhood.”

While the number of reported shootings and homicides has decreased recently, the work isn’t over, he said.

“We are grateful for all who have had a hand in helping reduce the number of shootings and homicides in the city,” Pfleger said. “But the lower numbers don’t mean a damn thing to the person who lost their life last night or this week.”

He said the people will not stop gathering and marching until every child, senior and adult feels safe in their home, on their block, in the park or walking down the street.

“We will not be silent or be satisfied until guns are no longer part of America’s wardrobe and violence is no longer seen as something we got to accept,” Pfleger said. “We will not accept violence in our communities, in our city and in our country.”

He won’t stop, Pfleger said, until no one is shot or killed.

“Some say, when I say this at meetings, ‘Pfleger, you’re crazy. That’s never gonna happen,’ he told the crowd. “Well, I may be crazy but I got a crazy faith in a God who I know can do all things and I believe it can happen.”

During the rally, more than 40 mothers wearing blue “Purpose Over Pain” T-shirts took to the steps holding photos of their children who were killed by gun violence.

Pam Bosley, founder of “Purpose Over Pain,” a parish ministry to families who have lost children to gun violence and whose own son was killed, told the crowd she sees the tears of those grieving a lost child.

She read the names of members’ children as they raised their photo up to the crowd. Many of the women wiped away tears as the names were read.

“To our young people, we want you to know, there are so many beautiful young people in this audience, your life matters. Your future matters. Your dreams matter. And we see you and we love you and we want you to live,” Bosley said.

Chance the Rapper greeted the crowd at the end of the rally.

“I’m here to hype y’all up as you go walk with peace,” he said. “I’m also incredibly honored to be in front of these mothers here today, so many parents that have been affected by gun violence.”

The walk shows everyone in the city that people don’t just want peace, they are willing to create it, he said.

“When you’re dealing with so much grief, peace is not constant,” he said. “It’s very rare and you want to hold on to it. … Today as we walk for peace, I want y’all to do it with a rebellious spirit. I want everybody to feel the life that is inside of you. Life is precious.”