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Groups hold peace rallies across Indianapolis during 72-hour 'cease fire'

Local groups are asking people to put down their guns through Halloween weekend.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis is under a 72-hour cease fire this Halloween weekend. Local groups are asking people to put down their guns through the holiday. Advocates held several peace rallies around the city with hopes of curbing what is becoming a record year for violence.

With two months left in 2021, Indianapolis has already seen a record number of homicides.

Local leaders ask the community to put down the guns for 72 hours. 

"I have hope. We can only try, right?" said Della Brown.

Brown had the idea, choosing Halloween weekend, when violence can spike.

"I didn't know what it was going to look like. I was just asking or 72 hours of no violence," Brown said.

She reached out to other advocates like Robert Booker for help. 

"I almost lost my life a couple times, so I just felt there was a need to change my life and change others' lives. I know it had to start with me first," Brown said. "Just try to be part of the solution, because I once used to be part of the problem."

Groups are holding peace rallies around the city in areas prone to violence. One such group gathered at 42nd Street and Post Road with signs, food and heart. 

"This is incredible. I'm so speechless," Brown said.

They hope this grassroots movement will extend beyond these three days. "I think if 72 hours work, another 72 hours work, then another 72 hours can work. So, I say this is a start. If we can pull this off, we can pull anything off," Booker said.

"I think it's the symbolism that is critically important. It's the message that's critically important. More people in the city of Indianapolis need to start appreciating that it's going to take all of us working together if we want to make our community free of violence and make every neighborhood, regardless of zip code, safe again," Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said while visiting the east side rally.

"I do believe this starts with us," Booker said.

Groups are planning several rallies across the city between Saturday and Sunday. Those locations include 38th Street and Emerson Avenue, 25th Street and Sherman Drive, 25th Street and Hillside Avenue, Gus Park and in the Barrington area.

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