‘Graduates Over Guns’ march pushes peace on streets ahead of summer break
CHICAGO — Calling it a bittersweet day, fire commissioner Annette Nance-Holt joined a group of elementary and high school students in a midday march and rally to promote violence-free streets and celebrate graduates who’ve stayed away from crime.
It was on this date in 2007 that Holt’s son, 16-year-old Blair Holt, was shot and killed on a Chicago Transit Authority bus.
“It’s great to see these young people graduating. Because my son didn’t have that opportunity,” Nance-Holt said. “This is awesome to see. I’m just so excited.”
The Friday march was the third year for the ‘Graduates Over Guns’ event, with Nance-Holt joining Percy L. Julian High School graduating seniors as they marched in caps and gowns down West 103rd Street toward Garvey M Elementary School, where they passed the baton to the eighth grade students with a message that they can be a part of the collective effort toward peace in Chicago.
“Not to just absorb what’s happening in their community but also know that they can be an impact. It don’t matter how young they are, how small they are. They are mighty. They are courageous. They are vivacious. And they have the power within them to take back their streets,’ event co-founder Umi Brooks told WGN.
Brooks was a childhood friend of Blair Holt, who was attending Julian High School when he was killed. She stressed it was important to her to do something proactive to support the city’s young people.
Percy High valedictorian Egypt Paige said she hopes the young people hear the simple message: “Live life. Have fun. High school is high school. We’re kids. It’s OK if we mess up right now, but stay focused. Stay on your path in life.”
A man is currently serving a 75-year sentence in Holt’s slaying.
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