Religious leaders from all over Youngstown united Sunday for the first "Stop the Violence walk and prayer rally of the year. The Reverend Kenneth Simon of the Community Mobilization Coalition has been spearheading these walks since 2021, which began in response to several acts of violence that summer, including the shooting death of 10-year-old Persayus Davis May in her home. 

They gathered in the parking lot of Grace Evangelistic Temple Church on Mahoning Avenue at 2 p.m. and marched on several streets. 

During the march, they prayed for peace in the city and to stop the violence they say has infected the surrounding neighborhoods.

"We are marching to let our presence be felt in the street," Simon said.  "The perpetrators of violence are allowing their presence to intimidate our communities and neighborhoods."

In Youngstown, there have been more than 10 fatal shootings and even more non-fatal shootings in 2024.

Nationwide however, there has been an overall drop in violence. 

A report from the Council on Criminal Justice states that homicides have decreased by 13%.