On Memorial Day in Pontiac, hundreds of residents turned Aaron Perry Park into a sea of T-shirts, posters, and prayer as the city marked the 16th annual Stomp Out Violence march. What is usually a standing date on the community calendar carried extra weight this year, coming just a day after a deadly shooting. Families, teens, and neighborhood leaders spent the afternoon marching, sharing resources, and closing with a solemn memorial for dozens of loved ones lost to violence.
Event highlights and theme
The free peace-and-healing event ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and mixed block-party energy with support services. Under this year’s theme, “Sweet 16 Years of Collaboration,” the program featured speakers, live music, a resource village, art therapy, chair massages, and youth-centered activities. As reported by ClickOnDetroit, host nonprofit Identify Your Dream capped the day with a ceremony that named and honored more than 90 people lost to violence. The combination of services and remembrance was designed to offer immediate support while publicly pressing for prevention.
Founder and history
Identify Your Dream, the Pontiac nonprofit behind the march, was founded by Deleah Sharp in memory of her brother, Dean Samuel. What started in 2011 with roughly 150 participants has grown into one of the city’s largest Memorial Day gatherings. Sharp told WXYZ that the organization focuses on grief support, victim advocacy, and case management for children who have lost loved ones. “When you choose to operate out of your healing, the doors will be open,” she said, explaining the group’s push to turn personal loss into community work.
Fatal shooting days earlier
The urgency behind that work was hard to miss. The rally followed a Sunday call to deputies about a shooting in the 300 block of Central Avenue. Investigators later found shell casings outside a bedroom window. The victim, identified as 25-year-old Brian Keith Washington Jr., was found with a gunshot wound to the neck and later died at a hospital, according to CBS Detroit. Authorities and Crime Stoppers are asking anyone with information to call 1-800-SPEAK-UP, and a reward of up to $2,000 has been offered in the case.
Youth outreach and safe spaces
Organizers also made a point of meeting teens where they are, literally. They reached out to a young person who had been planning a public gathering and helped channel that energy into the sanctioned event at the park, with food trucks and supervised activities instead of what officials described as an unsanctioned “teen takeover.” As detailed by ClickOnDetroit, members of the group’s Dreamers mentoring program helped bridge conversations between youth and city leaders. Teens at the march said programs like Identify Your Dream give them alternatives to risky hangouts and offer space to grieve, talk, and stay connected.
Organizers' message and next steps
Speakers wrapped up the afternoon with a push for what comes after the balloons and microphones are packed up. They urged continued investment in trauma services, mentoring, and neighborhood resources that they believe can cut down on repeat violence. Sharp told WXYZ that “we believe that healing actually disrupts the cycle of crime,” a line that drew nods from the crowd. Organizers encouraged residents to stay involved with local programs and to share any information about the Central Avenue shooting with law enforcement. Many who marched said they hope gatherings like this can gradually make Memorial Day in Pontiac less about violent headlines and more about hard-earned healing.
