The City of Lauderhill is gearing up to host a Walk for Peace to raise awareness about gun violence and honor its victims.
The event, organized by Commissioner Melissa P. Dunn, is scheduled for Saturday, June 29, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Lauderhill Police Department, located at 6279 West Oakland Park Boulevard.
Participants are encouraged to wear orange, a color symbolizing support for gun violence prevention and solidarity with affected families and individuals. The event will kick off with registration at 7:00 a.m., followed by a community walk at 9:00 a.m.
Response to uptick in violence
The Walk for Peace is part of National Gun Violence Awareness Month and aims to shed light on the critical issue of gun violence. Lauderhill, though not a large city, has seen a 44% increase in homicides, with the number of fatal shootings rising from three in 2022 to nine in 2023; and the city is on track, unfortunately, to beat that number this year.
In response to this alarming trend, Lauderhill launched the Lauderhill Peace 365 initiative earlier this year. This comprehensive program focuses on identifying the root causes of local gun violence, engaging the community to commit to nonviolence, and offering free conflict resolution workshops for teenagers. These efforts are complemented by enhanced policing measures.
“Any one of those things isolated by itself will not move the needle, but when you combine them, when you combine great policing with technology, with community involvement and with a movement that really encourages people to shift their mindset, I believe you’re gonna see a change in Lauderhill,” said Commissioner Dunn said then.
The Walk for Peace is just one of several events planned for Peace Week in Lauderhill. The week will also feature a Peace Summit on June 27 at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, a Peace Community Service Day on June 28 at Inverness Village, and a Community Resource Fair on June 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Lauderhill City Hall.
For more information and to register for the Walk for Peace, visit the City of Lauderhill’s official website.
Read: Lauderhill announces city-wide strategy to reduce gun violence
