a pair of recent homicides -- the city's first killings of the year -- prompted the march to reclaim city streets from thugs who perpetrate gun violence and other crimes in the Paper City. The event also was intended to show that most of the city's younger residents are not involved in illicit activities.
HOLYOKE -- A protest march to take back city streets from thugs who perpetrate gun violence and other crimes in Holyoke attracted a large crowd of supporters on Saturday, according to police.
Back-to-back June homicides inspired the protest, which took place a hot, sunny afternoon and drew dozens of marchers.
On June 19, 26-year-old Oscar Castro became Holyoke's first murder victim of 2011 when he was shot in the head in an apparent gang-related killing outside the Clover Cafe at 104 High St.
A day later, 23-year-old Reynaldo Fuentes became the city's second homicide victim when he was shot to death behind Las Chicas Market at 341 Appleton St. There have been several shootings and stabbings since then, but no fatalities
Holyoke police have charged three brothers with Fuentes' death. No arrests have been made in the Castro case, which remains under investigation.
On Saturday, peace marchers protested the surging violence by taking their message to the streets, as the procession wended its way through some of Holyoke's most troubled neighborhoods.
Whether or not the bad guys got the message is anybody's guess, but the march didn't trigger any problems, according to Holyoke Police Sgt. Laurence Cournoyer.
"It was a nice event," Cournoyer said Sunday, estimating at least 100 people took part in Saturday's peace parade.
"I was shocked, waking up (June 19) hearing a shooting, and (June 20) I'm walking around and I heard the shot," Holyoke resident Louis Burgos told CBS3 news.
"I hope all this can go down, like the crime and all that, I want to be a cop to make a change here, too," Burgos said.
The march also was intended to dispel the notion that most of the city's younger residents are involved in criminal activities when, in fact, most are not, according to participants.
Holyoke Police Lt. Manuel Febo told CBS3 that the Paper City, like any other urban area, typically experiences a spike in violent crime during the summer months. But, he added, police can't fight crime without help from city residents.
"It's important to get the community involved; it takes everybody," he said.