AURORA — About 40 people, including young kids, walked a mile Saturday morning in a march calling for peace.
The group went past a diverse stretch of Aurora, crossing East Colfax Avenue, and past packed apartment buildings.
It was an area where organizers said people need hope.
Group leaders were zig-zagging across the streets as they made their way, handing out brochures and asking people who were lingering outside, curious about the commotion, to march with them or join them at the park later.
A handful did. Others said they would. Later in the day the crowd at the park grew, joining officers, advocates and city leaders for food and games.
“It doesn’t matter who’s not here. It matters who is here,” said Francisco Gallardo, a program manager for Gang Rescue and Support Project, or GRASP. “Even though it’s a little bit of a struggle, it’s what we can offer. Peace and unity come in very small gestures.”
It was the second annual Aurora Unity Peace March hosted by a number of groups including GRASP and Aurora’s Gang Reduction Impact Program or A-GRIP run by the city and the Aurora Police Department.
Aiesha Ricks, a program coordinator for Holding Our Own Destiny Making Our Neighborhoods Stronger Through Education Respect and Self-Esteem/Self-Efficacy — or HOOD MONSTERS — said the event was postponed more than once and didn’t get promoted as much as last year, reducing turnout.
But it was still important to hold the event, getting everyone together to “bring back the spirit of the community,” she said.
Aurora police Chief Nick Metz and Mayor Steve Hogan were among those who attended a rally at the Spencer Garrett Park after the march.
“It’s no secret that these last few weeks have been very difficult for our country,” Metz said. “What I think is so great about Aurora is that what you see here today does not happen in a lot of cities around our country in that the community actually engages with its police department, is able to have dialogue, conversations. Even those conversations that may be difficult at times.”
Aurora Police Commander Ernie Ortiz said officers are at various events every weekend. Another group of Aurora officers were at another event Saturday handing out backpacks to kids getting ready to start school, he said.
At the peace event, officers escorted the group marching and then stuck around at the park, some playing with the kids, others standing back, passing out stickers or signing sheets to help kids collect prizes.
“It’s about humanizing the uniform,” Ortiz said. “It’s what we try to do every day.”