Williamsport, Pa. — About 50 people walked a mile through Williamsport Saturday as part of the Justice for Juveniles Peace Walk, an event organized to show the city’s young people they are supported by their community.
Community Comes Together
Daliesha Walker, a Williamsport resident and community organizer, planned the walk and promoted it on Facebook, writing that the event was meant to ‘show our children that they are seen, heard, loved, and supported by their community’ and that ‘every step we take is a reminder that their lives matter and that they are not alone.’ Participants included Williamsport City Council members Liz Miele and Jonah Milliken; Williamsport Area School District board members Nazirah Purnell and Lauren Montgomery; Rachel Wallace, a candidate for the 9th Congressional District who traveled from Pottsville for the event; and Jessie Lopez Jr., who was recently stopped by a Lycoming County detective in an incident that drew widespread attention.
‘This is personal to me,’ Walker said. ‘Peace isn’t created by words alone — it begins when ordinary people choose to show up for one another.’ Walker, born and raised in Williamsport, said she wants children in the city to know ‘there are adults who care, who will show up, and who are willing to stand beside them.’ ‘Today wasn’t just about walking — it was about starting conversations, building relationships, and reminding everyone that real change begins when a community comes together,’ Walker said.
Support for Local Youth
Jessie Lopez Sr., father of Jessie Lopez Jr., said the turnout moved him. ‘Seeing our community come together, stand united, and show love for the next generation was truly powerful,’ Lopez said. ‘This was never about division — it was about protecting our kids, supporting one another, and reminding them that they matter.’ Lopez thanked those who attended and ‘helped make this a beautiful moment for our community.’ Officials, including Milliken and Wallace, also weighed in on the importance of community support for local youth.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
