PETERSBURG, Va. -- Faith and community leaders marched along with citizens through Old Towne Petersburg Saturday chanting "no more bloodshed" in hopes of curbing deadly violence in the city.
Pastor Belinda Baugh is one the organizers of the Stop The Violence March, which weaved through some of the city's violence-prone areas as well as to a recent murder scene.
"We got some serious problems going on in our city, affecting our youth, young adults in this city concerning murder," Baugh said Friday. "We can't just forget about it and act like it don't exist."
Baugh urged the community to come together -- and if they see something, say something.
"If you are not opening your mouth and you know who's the problem, who's the issue, who's causing these murders in our city and you don't say anything... You are just as guilty as the person that pulled the trigger," she added.
Nov. 1 bike ride aims to curb violence
Darius Johnson is one of the organizers of a Nov. 1 bike ride that also aims to stop the violence in Petersburg.
"I'm tired of seeing innocent people get killed," said Johnson. "If we don't stand up to do something, how is it going to change? What's going to change?"
The bike ride will feature motorcycles, ATVs, slingshots and side-by-sides.
Like Pastor Baugh, Johnson said it is time for people speak up.
"I truly believe that's why there are so many unsolved investigations in Petersburg because everybody's scared to talk. And I get it, don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day this is someone's loved one," Johnson added.
If you have information that could help detectives, call Petersburg Police at 804-732-4222 or Petersburg/Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212 or text the keyword pdcash followed by the tip and send to 274637.
