from the St. Martinde Porres school before
the Hands Across Lehigh march.
The annual event began at St. Martin's
with a program including prayers and
a reading of names of local victims of violence.
A kaleidoscope of nearly 600 people spilled out of a North Philadelphia church on an unseasonably hot afternoon yesterday with an exuberant message: Stop the violence.
Students from six Catholic elementary schools, each group wearing a different-color T-shirt, created ribbons of brilliance as they joined teachers and relatives for the third annual Hands Across Lehigh, a three-mile peace march.
"What we're going to do is something good in our city for a change," said Sister Nancy Fitzgerald, principal of St. Martin de Porres.
She spoke during a pre-march program at St. Martin's church, which included performances by students from Ascension of Our Lord, St. Hugh of Cluny, La Salle Academy, St. Anne's, Visitation, and St. Martin's.
A rendition of "America the Beautiful" by a St. Martin alumnus drew a standing ovation. The singer, Vincent Cannady, 18, a senior at Roman Catholic High School, said he was honored to be included.
"It's my school. I wouldn't think of not doing it," said Cannady, who's headed to the Berklee School of Music in Boston in the fall.
Highlighting the need to reduce violence, students read the names of dozens of last year's homicide victims.
The event began as a way to draw attention to the violence and its victims, Sister Nancy said.
If 2-year-old Iaisha Daniels was any indication, that objective succeeded. She was inside her residence off Lehigh Avenue when she saw and heard the crowd.
"I didn't have any idea what was going on," said her father, Jesse, "but she insisted on coming outside. This is the first time she's witnessed anything like this."
He said he applauded the initiative, and many westbound motorists on Lehigh honked and waved appreciatively as the throng passed. Eastbound drivers had to contend with some detours as a police escort kept several blocks of marchers closed to traffic.
For participants, the goals varied.
"I want to stop the violence," said Brian Matunda, 10.
"Bring world peace," offered his brother, Kwahmrye Thompson, 8.
Henry Zakarewicz, who marched with daughters Zoralee, 11, and Maya, 7, said he valued the unity the event created.
"People have come together without regard to race or color," he said.
At St. Anne, the march's end point, 13-year-old Richard Eckert confessed that the 90-degree heat had been a challenge.
"At one point, you just want to sit down," he said. "But then you see all the people around you and realize that you can walk three miles for peace."
As more marchers reached the finish, a new line formed at the water-ice truck shrewdly parked in front of the church.
