A caravan of humanity. A people of faith. It idles on 78th Place near Racine Avenue in the warm evening sun one late-summer Friday in June. Music blares from a shiny green SUV outfitted with loud speakers that will lead them on their sojourn in the streets of the South Side of Chicago from the doorsteps of the Faith Community of St. Sabina. It is perhaps a formidable showdown against the forces of darkness. A bout for the soul of the city, maybe even the bold makings of a revolution that will not be televised. In one corner stands Faith. In the other: Violence. Which will win?
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12
A palpable excitement runs thick like hot molasses, the hearts and minds of the faithful on one accord. They have assembled here to declare war, an invasion. Good versus Evil. They call it: Summer Invasion. Their mission: To invoke faith and hope against the minions of hate and murder that gnaw at what remains of one city’s psyche and soul. This army of one church. One faith. One Lord. One baptism. One mission. All on one accord.
They stand as a mixed mostly Black congregation, led by a white Catholic activist priest. They are a cadre of graying but prayer-wielding church mothers, even babies in strollers, strong men in T-shirts. Some of St. Sabina's soldiers advance on crutches or in wheelchairs. They are the infirmed. The wounded in heart and soul, but undefeated. Mothers and fathers of murdered sons and daughters, they press through their pain with purpose, with determination to be the change they want to see.
Two reporters set out to chronicle their journey, covering every single march over 12 hot summer weeks in Chicago, through the heat and the elements, even as nightfall consumed the last glimpse of day. Chronicling the hope and also the marchers' pain—through the glaring sun and summer rain that would take this caravan of faith to street corners, where just hours earlier bullets reigned. Where the wounded had lain, felled by a shooter's deadly aim. Before summer’s end, this group of the faithful would come face to face with the Death Angel who came to claim even one of their own. But in the end, might an Invasion of Faith still proclaim victory over violence?
Mothers of murdered Chicago children stand in front of St. Sabina before a Friday summer Peace March
Into The Streets, the Peace Marchers flowed... And from their apartments, houses, stores, restaurants and other businesses, the people poured out to greet them. Raising clenched fists in solidarity, smiling, waving, crying, hugging, slapping fives or exchanging hearty handshakes or fist bumps, they celebrated the sight of the human caravan for peace...
Peace Marchers Invade The Streets of Chicago
Mothers whose children were slain lead peace marchers into the streets, carrying signs of those sons and daughters they lost
A father and daughter raise clenched fists in solidarity with the peace marchers
Two young girls on the sidewalk watch marchers as they file by
Being on crutches couldn't stop this brother from marching against violence
Father Pfleger embraces a woman whose daughter was a victim of gun violence
A 10-year-old survivor of gun violence
A woman holds a picture of her son Imario Ballard, murdered in September 2018
Genell Taylor, holds an obituary of her son Tyrese "AJ" Taylor who was murdered in summer 2021
Peace marchers permeate the streets
"Hey, ya'll..."
Father Pfleger shows brotherly love
Marchers prepare to cross the street with signs raised
"Wassup, Father Mike"
Embracing Young Minds
Children cheese and wave at marchers
"Aye, lil man, give me some dap"
Embracing Families On The Block
"Wow, what are they doing out here, guys?"
"Hey, put your fist up like this..."
A mother and two sons hold their fists to the sky
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1
At Summer's end, a Peace Celebration in the Park. Hotdogs and potato chips, snow cones and ice-cold sips of sweet drinks. A bouncy house, a rainbow of chalks to color the sidewalk with. Back-to-school backpacks and mother wit amid the sounds of a live band and the cacophony of children at play as peace reigned and the sunlight smiled upon them all day.
Helping Hands
Just Chillin'
Just Smokin'
Just Coolin'
Our World
Clowning Around with kiddie tattoos
In Her Eyes
Beanbag tossing
"Mine, all mine"
Play Time!
Kiddie Contemplation
The Church Mothers
"Let me get some..."
"Ahhhhhh..."
"Hmmmmm"
Scoring the basket
St. Sabina, A Light in Darkness
"Whoa!"
Chips
Barbershop on Wheels provides free cuts
Getting a fresh cut for a new school year
Attention to Detail
Community Service
Ahhh, the taste of snow cones on a hot summer day
Icy blue
Next to Heaven
"May I have a hotdog, please"
A St. Sabina back-to-school book bag
Chalking It Up
It's A Party
Joseph Saunders bearing the cross all summer long
Peace in The Streets
"...shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." James 2:18
"Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Credits:
Photos: John Fountain, Samantha Latson