Organizations march to reduce violence in Youngstown neighborhoods

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A group of local clergy and members of their congregations are trying to reduce violence in Youngstown neighborhoods.

Pastors and members of local churches gathered Saturday afternoon outside the Phillips Memorial Baptist Church on the city's east side to pray and march to Rockford Village homes.

Organizers hope their presence will bring peace to the neighborhoods and said police cannot do the job all by themselves.

"We just believe that if we've got presence of violence in the community then we have to bring the presence of the spirit of god that dispels the spirit of violence, and so, we're trying to counteract that," said Pastor Ken Simon with Community Mobilization Coalition.

This is the fourth year groups such as Community Mobilization Coalition, ACTION and others have held peace marches in different neighborhoods. They said they believe crime statistics show the groups are having a positive impact.

Tino DiCenso contributed to this report.