Members of the Western Illinois University and Macomb communities came together for a peace rally and prayer walk.
They wanted to make their voices heard following the March 25 shooting at an off-campus house party that killed one person and wounded ten others.
“I just wanted to share a little bit of my heart,” said Ron Pettigrew, Program Director of the WIU Veterans Resource Center.
“Following this most recent shooting, there were multiple students that communicated to me or others that they didn’t feel like they could leave their rooms. That it impacted them.”
Pettigrew and others said they are available to help and support students.
“We care, and we’re out there for our students, and our university,” Pettigrew said.
Jerman Beathea, 26, of Chicago died in the shooting at 533 N. Johnson St. A suspect, Demond Wilson, Jr., of Calumet Park, has been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and other offenses.
Half-a-dozen others spoke during the 20-minute peace rally.
Cara Cerullo, Interim Director of the WIU Counseling Center, said she wants students to know they are supported now and into the future.
Among them, Cara Cerullo, Interim Director of the WIU Counseling Center, said,
“We are here to stand alongside and walk alongside our students who are struggling with their everyday needs, (and) especially in times of crisis and extreme stress,” Cerullo said.
Fiifi Godwyll, President of the Student Government Association at WIU, also addressed the gathering.
“It’s really important for us to be able to do these things to show that we support every individual student that is here on campus, regardless of the color of their skin or regardless of whatever trauma they go through. It’s great to show that we are here for them,” he said.
After the event, rally goers joined others for a prayer walk through the campus and the community.
Peter Fusek, a WIU political science major, said the prayer walk appealed to him.
“I like to go to public displays of faith. I think it’s important for Christians to get out there together and to show what we believe and also have a presence in the community,” he said.
Those who participated in the walk paused for a prayer near the home where the shooting happened before ending with a prayer at Chandler Park in downtown Macomb.
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