SAGINAW, MI (WNEM) -
Some people in Saginaw said they just have had enough of the senseless violence.
Wednesday night, more than 100 people sick of the violence met in Carrollton Township for a Rally Against Violence.
There were several speakers who talked against violence. Musicians drove from Detroit to the rally, preachers spoke the word of God and several local companies pitched in to share their part and promise to unite to end violence.
But what made the rally unique was who helped organize it. Armand Burks is 11 years old and was a friend of Tamaris "TJ" Steward. Steward was shot and killed in his sleep on June 7, and because of this, Armand wanted to do something about the violence.
"People are killing each other over nothing, it's stupid," Armand said.
His brother, Brennan Burks, and cousin, Ashton McMillan, also pitched in to make the rally happen.
"We're the next generation, and we're the ones who are going to change Saginaw, we're the future," Brennan said.
"We really need to bring it to the forefront, we need to put it as our top priority, not as a city, not as a community, but as a state, to stop the violence," McMillan said.
Fred Burks, Ashton and Brennan's dad, helped set up the rally. He runs the JABKA organization, an acronym made up of the first letter of his five children's names to help kids get off the street. He said his kids stepped up to the plate to make a difference in the community.
"I'm a father, I have an 11-year-old kid, and guess what, his life is at risk because we can't control our community. Today marks the day that we're going to start controlling our community," Fred Burks said.
TJ Steward's mother, Tiffany Owens, spoke at the rally with a simple message.
"I just know that we need to come together, this crime needs to stop, your children are being taken away, innocent children, and we just need to come together and stand together as a community and we need to understand that it takes a village to raise our kids," Owens said.
And for Armand and Brennan, and their cousin Ashton, they hope the rally against violence opens the eyes of community members and does its part in putting a stop to the violence in Saginaw and surrounding communities.
Copyright WNEM 2012 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Anti-violence rally in Saginaw (Source: Andrew Keller)
Anti-violence rally in Saginaw (Source: Andrew Keller)
Anti-violence rally in Saginaw (Source: Andrew Keller)
Anti-violence rally in Saginaw (Source: Andrew Keller)
