By Erin Edwards
Special to the Reporter

To residents and community leaders of Dorchester, the recent increase in the number of shooting deaths in Boston is not just news anymore. It has become a trend that they are fed up with and desperate to change.

"How many days of the year am I gonna wear black, cry, be affected by this?" asked Roxbury resident Sandie Sosa, during a press conference at Saturday's "Community Day of Peace."

Sosa, an on-air personality for the new Roxbury-based radio station, 106.1 Touch F.M., was one of ten speakers at the press conference on Saturday morning held in what is considered a "hot spot" at the corner of Bowdoin and Topliff Streets. Also in attendence were City Councillors Charles Yancey, Sam Yoon and Felix Arroyo.

The morning began with the resounding voice of Christine Davis, a member of the Grace Church Of All Nations, singing the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, "We Shall Overcome."

The theme of every speech given at the press conference was one of change and action towards change. Tiffany Johnson, a featured speaker and a member of the organization Teen Empowerment, expressed her desire to be a part of change in her community in her speech.

"How do we get there? We need a solution and I want to be a part of it," said Johnson." I want to know my community is gonna change, and change is what I'm about."

The press conference was followed by a walk and vigil that led the group of community leaders and residents down Bowdoin and several surrounding streets.

Throughout the walk, members of the group would tie purple ribbons &endash; which symbolize peace &endash; on gates, locations where someone was gunned down, or on store fronts.

The murder of 14 year-old Jason Fernandez, at a New Year's Eve party on Hamilton Street in the Bowdoin-Geneva community, was the last straw for Lynn Currier, Director of the Haitkaah Social Justice Center.

"I felt like I gotta resurrect this energy," said Currier in her response to the shooting death of Fernandez. " I can't let it die anymore," said Currier.

Currier, a resident of Readville, felt propelled to organize Saturday's event after Fernandez's death and also after the lack of action from the city after a similar rally following the shooting death of two young boys last summer. The two young men, Kenny Murray Jr. and Gregory Josey, 21 and 19 respectively, were gunned down on the corner of Bowdoin and Topliff streets last June.

"There's wars going on all over the city and adults need to acknowledge it," said Currier.