YORK, Pa. — Leaders of the York Gun Violence Initiative walked through North Pershing Ave. in York on Wednesday to spread positivity in the community following a pair of shootings in the city over the last month.
The "Stop That Tour" was organized following a shooting that wounded four teenage girls in York on Monday, as well as a shooting that left a 21-year-old man dead earlier this month.
The tour saw walkers pass snacks and drinks to children while interacting with families in the neighborhood.
Leaders from the GVI say shootings like these see their frustration grow.
"[A] young man losing his life, [that's] instant anger," said Tiff Lowe, the GVI Project Manager. "Four young ladies, more anger. The difference between myself and the shooters is I'm able to deal with my emotions a little bit better than they are."
Lowe says the tour is meant to show that violence is not the answer to problems in the community.
"A lot of these shootings are due to retaliation," Lowe said. "Their friends may have or have not been shot and killed, so they retaliate using guns. I retaliate using love. So I sit in my anger, and then I retaliate by coming out with positivity, love and resources."
The message of the walk, Lowe says, is to show children that they have support as they go through their lives.
"What I want the community to know is that when we're here, they're safe," Lowe said. "Come out, sit on your porches, talk to us, allow your children to rip and run, because we're going to be here and you're safe."