Volunteers plan to hit streets for ’21 Days of Peace’ to deter crime in Minneapolis

Faith and community leaders have organized what his being called "21 Days of Peace" with volunteer patrols scheduled to start Monday evening in selected neighborhoods after three children were shot in recent weeks in Minneapolis.

"We want to saturate all of those neighborhoods with people of goodwill. We’re also asking the people who live in those neighborhoods to come out and join us," said the Rev. Jerry McAfee, pastor at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. "What we’re saying is collectively it must stop, and we’re hoping after those 21 days of peace that it will be ingrained in us to live peacefully. That’s it in a nutshell."

A 10-year-old, nine-year-old, and six-year-old have been shot in unsolved cases in recent weeks in Minneapolis.

Aniya Allen, 6, was shot last Monday night near 36th and Penn avenues, and later died from the gunshot wound.

New Generations Church is one of several faith-based groups that are organizing volunteers to go to West Broadway and Lyndale avenues in Minneapolis on Monday evening.

Community patrols to start in Minneapolis following weekend gunfire

"It’s so critical because there is so much chaos in our city right now, that if you don’t do anything you are part of the problem," the Rev. Victor Martinez said. "By people activating as they are now, people in the community activating, it’s almost like this is your last chance to do something [about] this."

The Minneapolis Police Department, along with federal authorities, is continuing to investigate the cases of the three children.

Organizers plan to provide resources to those they meet with job and housing opportunities.

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The volunteer’s hotline number is also 612-254-1228.