Santa Monicans March Against Crime

Elizabeth Schneider

August 6 -- It was a red, white and blue National Night Out on the Promenade Tuesday as nearly 1,200 Santa Monicans gathered for an evening of music and amusement and a chance to catch a glimpse of that world-renowned crime-fighter and Hollywood star, Spiderman.

For many, the ninth annual event sponsored by the Santa Monica Police Department with the help of more than 60 volunteers, provided a platform to express community spirit as well as an opportunity to march in solidarity with the city's police and firefighters.

"Ever since September 11, there's more sense of community and a responsibility between the neighbors and the police to look out for each other," said Sgt. Dave Thomas, the department's community relations sergeant. "There's been a renewed sense of community."

Reverend Ronald Williams, Pastor of Santa Monica's First African Methodist Episcopal Church was on hand for the festivities alongside his family and a large number of his congregation.

"As a church we're working with the police department to reduce the amount of crime and gang activity in our community," Williams said.

Church members have been taking a proactive role recently, Williams said, sitting down with known gang members and staging several walks through the neighborhood "letting our presence be known."

His daughter Aubrey Cochran had the honor of carrying the Church's homemade banner during the short march from the Promenade to Palisades Park.

"Our banner won first prize," Cochran said proudly. "Our whole church participated in making it."

For some of the marchers, it was a time to honor those who could not be there.

Local residents Art Peyser and Suzanne Verge marched in memory of loved ones who lost their lives at the hands of violent criminals. Peyser's daughter Wendy Wagner was shot and killed during a 1997 carjacking in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Wagner's brother was murdered in Santa Monica 24 years ago when he was 18-years-old.

"We're marching for our daughters, and brothers and the millions of others who have lost their lives due to gun violence," Wagner said.

Both Peyser and Verge are active members of the Million Mom March's West Los Angeles chapter and have been waging a campaign on the local, state and national level to curb gun violence. Most recently the two have been lobbying in Sacramento to repeal the gun industry's current immunity against lawsuits

And while the two say the city has a "progressive stance on gun laws" they both know that education is one route towards getting guns out of the hands of children.