"Let the children play:" Event planned for this weekend in honor of 10-year-old Sierra Guyton
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A "take back the city" event is planned for this weekend in honor of 10-year-old Sierra Guyton -- shot in the head as she played on the playground near her home in May. Guyton was shot on May 21st -- and the little girl was pronounced dead at Children’s Hospital on July 13th.
This weekend, the Tabernacle Community Baptist Church -- located just a few blocks from the Clarke Street School playground where Guyton was shot has organized an event in her honor -- titled "Let the Children Play."
The "Let the Children Play" event coincides with Tabernacle Baptist Church's annual community outreach -- planned for Saturday, August 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
On Sunday, August 17th, following the morning worship service, around 12:30 p.m., the congregation and community members will walk from the church to the playground at Clarke Street School -- where Sierra Guyton was shot.
The following is a statement from the church on the event:
"Let the children play:" -- such a simple phrase that some would admit goes without saying, but for one neighborhood in Milwaukee’s north side this phrase is now every parents hope and wish.
On Wednesday May 21, 2014, near North 28th and West Clarke Street, 10–year-old Sierra Guyton, a third-grader at Clarke Street Elementary School, was shot in the head while playing on the playground. She died after eight weeks of fighting for her life.
Though the family is still feeling the effects of losing such a precious life, they, as well as the surrounding communities, are demanding change. What was once a playground full of children laughing and playing now sits empty. Parents and children alike are afraid that they will be the next victims of a senseless crime.
Pastor Don Darius Butler of Tabernacle Community Baptist Church, which is located just a few blocks from the empty Clarke Street School playground, has heard this cry and answered with a call to action. Speaking at Sierra’s funeral, he said: "There's no way not to be angry. There is no way not to feel outrage. But that rage, he said, was not enough… We will take this city back. Let not her living or dying be in vain."
Tabernacle Community Baptist Church is living up to its name by serving their community.
Tabernacle's annual community outreach will be held on Saturday, August 16th from 10am-2pm. Dignitaries will be present as well as others who will discuss the violence that has been taking place in the neighborhood and Milwaukee.
On Sunday August 17th following morning worship service, around 12:30pm, the congregation along with the surrounding community will walk from Tabernacle to the playground at Clarke Street School where Sierra Guyton was shot.
This event will be titled "Let the children play."
It is Tabernacle’s hope and prayer that they can show their support in reclaiming the area where children no longer play and allow our children to play there again without any fear.
CLICK HERE to read a collection of stories related to the shooting of 10-year-old Sierra Guyton via FOX6Now.com.