Promising student Hadiya Pendleton succumbed to the very act she was against.
Five years prior to her tragic demise, Pendleton and classmates created an anti-gang violence public service announcement.
“Hi, I’m Hadiya,” Pendleton said in the PSA. “This infomercial is for you and your future children.
“So many children are fearing gangs and it is your job to say no to gangs and yes to a great future.”
Hadiya and friend Omari go on to say “more than 500 children have died from being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The pair tell viewers to “think smart, but joining a gang isn’t a part of it.”
Community residents are organizing a march for slain Chicago teen Hadiya Pendlton in hopes of finding her killer.
Community resident Mavric Johnson told DNAinfo.com the march start today at noon at King College Prep, the school Pendleton attended.
“We’re going to go through the neighborhood and pass out flyers to catch this murderer,” Johnson said, according to DNAinfo.com. “We want to keep it fresh every day so they know we’re looking for them.”
The community will lead a march to Vivian Gordon Harsh Park to hold a vigil. They will also go door-to-door to pass out fliers to help them in their mission to bring Pendleton’s killer to justice.
The Chicago Police Department has set the bounty for any information leading to the arrest of Hadiya Pendleton’s killer at $24,000.
Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed Tuesday when a gunman opened fire on a group of friends she was hanging with after school. She was 15.
“We’ve got a lot of calls coming in,” Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said in a press conference. “We have to run down every single one of those tips.”
Chicago mayor Emanuel Rahm called for everyone to work together to protect the “children of the city of Chicago.”
When any young person in our city is gunned down without reason, their death makes an impression on all of us, and it demands action from all of us,” Emanuel said in a press conference. “As we grieve for Hadiya, we need to work together to protect our greatest resource — the children of the city of Chicago.”
Pendleton, who was shot in the back, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. A 16-year-old boy was also shot during the attack.
Pendleton, a sophomore at King College Prep High School, traveled to Washington to perform with her school’s band at President Obama’s inauguration last Tuesday.
White House spokesman Jay Carney issued a statement calling the shooting a “terrible tragedy.”
The Obamas, he said, were praying for Pendleton’s family.
Police are urging anyone with information to call (312) 747-8380.
Check out Pendleton’s anti-violence PSA below
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