Fr Michael Pfleger, the most outspoken priest in the nation on gun violence, will lead a silent march on New Year's Eve in remembrance of the over 760 homicide victims in Chicago this year.
Pfleger, the pastor of St Sabina Catholic Church on the city's South Side, has led similar marches dating back to at least 2015.
The march in 2018 had the blessing of Cardinal Cupich.
The one in 2016, the last time the murder rate reached this year's proportions, began at the Tribune Tower in downtown Chicago and progressed north for a half mile to the Water Tower, around the corner from the archdiocesan offices.
This year's route will take a similar path.
As the current murder rate continues to solidify Chicago as the murder capital of the US, Pfleger and others have continued their calls for substantive action from local leaders.
One such leader is the president of of Chicago's fraternal order of police, who may soon be fired for racist and terroristic social media posts.
Pfleger himself called for his firing earlier this month.
CPD tells the public all the time they must speak up about folks doing wrong. I AGREE 100% But, now, CPD must also speak up and DEMAND that John Catanzara President of the FOP be FIRED. They elected him, they must demand his Firing
— Fr. Michael Pfleger (@MichaelPfleger) December 18, 2020
In anticipation of Thursday's noontime march (and in light of the fact that Chicago shootings outnumber the area's deaths from the virus), Pfleger has been adamant that the pandemic is not a sufficient excuse for silence on the matter of "carnage" in the community.
"Although it’s apparent we are focused now on COVID-19, we can also walk and chew gum."
And walk they shall.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder of Black Catholic Messenger, a priesthood applicant with the Josephites, and a ThM student w/ the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA).
