SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The annual Save Our Streets: Unsolved Homicides Day is being held at Springfield’s Johnny Appleseed Park. The event is dedicated to remembering loved ones lost to gun violence, honoring survivors, and uniting neighbors around the shared goal of safer streets. Thursday’s event was put together by the Darrell Lee Jenkins Jr. Resource Center and is also being held in memory of Darrell Lee Jenkins Jr.

Darell lost his life 12 years ago this day after being shot and killed on Kensington Avenue in Springfield back in 2014. his life, and the lives of all those taken by senseless violence, are the mission and motivation behind today’s annual gathering.

Organizers told Western Mass News they chose Johnny Appleseed Park as the site for the event intentionally, after multiple incidents have happened here in recent years involving drugs and violence.

The founder of the Darrell Lee Jenkins Jr. Resource Center Juanita Bachelor said it’s about taking this space back, through a cookout, resource tables, guest speakers, and support for families, “my son was murdered on Kensington avenue and I feel like Johnny Appleseed is where the people most impacted are at there not at forest park their in this neighborhood so I want to meet people where their at and meet them without judgement.”

The event will run until 7 p.m. here at Johnny Appleseed Park.

Coming up later tonight on Western Mass News at 10 and 11, we’ll have more on Thursday’s gathering and why community members believe these types of events are vital in the community.

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