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Photos: Memorial march for Unique Russell attracts friends, family, activists
Unique Russell's family greets the community that has come to support them grieve Unique's death.
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Ashley Myers-Turner/KPCC
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Malik Spellman, one of the Peacemakers on A&E's TV show, came by to pay his respects to Unique Russell, who he considered family.
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Vicky Lindsey calls for members of the march who have lost a member of their family to violence come stand next to her. She says this is to show the family that they have people in the community to turn to for support, advice and comfort that have had similar experiences.
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Unique Russell's family (Emily Sharp-Williams, Alma Smith, Belinda Brooks, and Delintha Jones, left to right) lead the march back to the family home where it began.
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Unique Russell's friend, Makai Johnson, says "It just broke my heart when I heard it," about finding about his friend's death.
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In a final moment, the group held hands in a large circle and said a prayer for Unique Russell and her family.
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Unique Russell's family leads the march from the family home to Century Blvd. (Emily Sharp-Williams, Tashunica Sharp, Katrina Ervin, Belinda Brooks, Keshanie Sharp-Williams, Delitha Jones, from left to right)
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A memorial created for Unique Russell by family, friends, and neighborhood residents outside of the family home.
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Sister Lita Herron joins the memorial march, urging rebuilding and addressing issues of gang violence in the community.
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Najee Ali acted as director of the march and memorial. During the march he shouted "Stop the Violence. Increase the Peace." as the crowd repeating after him in unison.
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Sister Lita Herron offers her condolences to Alma Smith and the rest of Unique Russell's family (from left, Tashunica Sharp, Katrina Ervin, Kesanie Sharp-Williams, Calvin Reeves, Belinda Brooks, Delintha Jones, Emily Sharp-Williams)
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A police escort blocked several busy streets so the memorial could continue.
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About 50 community members met on Monday in Inglewood for a memorial march for Unique Russell, the 14-year-old girl shot to death on the Fourth of July while watching fireworks in her grandmother's front yard. Her death is believed to be the casualty of a gang dispute. Both friends and strangers came to pay their respects to the family. But many, such as activist Vicki Lindsey, were also hoping to raise awareness about the rampant gang violence in the community.
"It may have happened to Unique, but guess what. It will happen to somebody else and somebody else if we don't stand up and say enough is enough. Because these are our babies. Not even just babies. They are killing people period," she said.
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