'Catalyst' hope for gun protesters

By Steven Shukor
BBC London

The march coincided with a Downing Street summit on gun crime

They warmed their spirits with Amazing Grace, that most uplifting of gospel hymns.

In the square facing Peckham Library, where 10-year-old Damilola Taylor was last seen playfully skipping before he was killed in 2000, the chorus irresistibly engulfed all those gathered.

According to police estimates, up to 1,000 people of all ages answered the church leaders' calls to march for peace following a spate of shootings in south-east London which left three teenagers dead in the last three weeks.

Their message?

"Our children need to see we care," said Pastor Les Isaac, one of the organisers of the rally between Peckham and Brixton in south London.

"We are demonstrating our disgust with the shootings and the stabbings. Our message is enough is enough. We hope this march will be a catalyst for real action to help save a generation of young people."

Emboldened by that most elevating of gopsel songs "We Shall Overcome" marchers, some holding candles, walked in the fading light down Peckham High Street towards Camberwell Green.

Adrian Harrison says youths need to be shown positive alternatives

Young people joined in, some of them keen to show another face of their much maligned generation.

"I wanted to be in the presence of believers," said 23-year-old Adrian Harrison, wearing trainers and a hooded top.

While many stereotypes of hooded gun-toting youth have been bandied about the media, Adrian is not one of them.

He is a maths teacher at a local secondary school.

"I wanted to show people there are different ways to success. You don't have to deal drugs or pick up a gun."

The lack of positive role models, especially father figures, has been raised as one of many contributing factors to youth crime.

Father-of-four Simon Spence said: "While there are many single parents doing a great job of raising their children I believe the presence of a father is important. It gives a balance. There are too many young children out there who lack direction."

Getting involved in gangs is not always a lifestyle choice, said David, aged 17. He added that it was better to be in with a gang than not.

Marches won't stop the violence. There's probably some boy getting stabbed in Peckham or Brixton right now. David, aged 17

"If they see you walking in the street and they don't recognise you, chances are they will pick on you and rob you and beat you up. To survive as a young person in places like Peckham it's much better to know people.

"Marches won't stop the violence. There's probably some boy getting stabbed in Peckham or Brixton right now."

Funding for grassroots community projects are considered critical in helping at-risk young people.

Charles Emeka, 29, survived two shootings and went to prison in 2000 after being caught up in "drugs and other stuff" before he decided to turn his life around.

He put himself through university where he studied international business and has since set up a youth mentoring project for 12-24 year olds called Become.

"I use my own experience to show the destructive path you embark on when you get involved with gangs. This problem needs radical action and I hope the decision-makers will listen to what the community is saying."