Community members led by Ald. William Hall (red shirt) and Pastor John Boston pray for a pair of Chicago police officers attending a prayer vigil for the victims of recent Southside gun violence. The event was held at the Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church.| Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Ald. William Hall (6th) and Pastor John Boston led prayers for the community and families of victims of violence during the event at Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7000 S. Michigan Ave.
"We're gathering tonight to calm the ward, people are concerned, people are afraid so we're turning to our faith," Hall said. "Tonight is a night of both faith and action."
The service was dedicated to the families of the two men, both innocent bystanders, shot and killed during an attack Monday afternoon in the 7100 block of South State Street.
Boston who was present when the lifeless body of one of the victims was removed from the scene later said the vigil “represented a radical response to a very violent tragedy. Prayer and worship are incredible opportunities to ignite hope and courage when these types of painful experiences occur in our community.”
Simon Willie Brown Sr., 59, and Jon Rucker, 47, were fatally shot. Brown, wounded in the abdomen, died shortly after. Rucker was shot in the head and died Wednesday.
Brown's son, Simon Willie Brown Jr., sat in the front pew during the service, He's grateful for the community's support.
"We've been getting a lot of love," Brown said. "I haven't felt alone since everything happened. ... I've been getting a lot of support from my family and my friends and now the community and the church. I'm just so grateful for everything."
Instead of turning to one another during difficult times, many people isolate themselves when community support is most important.
"Our goal is for people to leave this moment wanting to stay connected with each other like we used to do," Hall said. "We used to check in on each other but now we see more isolation and when things are isolated and people are not communicating and caring it leaves room for crime and mayhem."
Brown's niece, Aisha Miles, says she's shocked at the community support since her uncle's passing.
"People have been really showing up," Miles said. "My uncle was a dynamite man, and I can see him all around in all of this."
Claudette Guthrie, 64, who lives in Chatham, attended the service to show support for the families of the shooting victims.
“The murders, the crime, it needs to be brought down and the only way we can do that is by doing this, by bringing our support,” Guthrie said. “We need to bring the South Side together.”
Shiloh opened its doors to the families to host the funerals. The Brown family accepted the offer and Shiloh members provided the repast meal for 200 people. “This is church to me,” said Pastor Boston. “We are not called to gather; we are called to GO. I'm grateful to be a part of a faith community that is working to fight violence and hopelessness with prayer, service and the promises found in knowing Jesus and making Him known.”
Republished with permission from the March 2, 2024 Chicago Sun-Times
