Residents March in Rain Against Pacoima Crime

More than 100 residents, politicians and community leaders staged a wet but spirited demonstration in Pacoima Saturday to protest neighborhood drug dealing and gang activity.

The demonstrators marched in the drizzle from the Pacoima Community Center down several blocks of Van Nuys Boulevard chanting, “We love Pacoima. Don’t give our children dope. Give them all the hope.”

Merchants and their customers curiously eyed the crowd marching in the middle of the street, surrounded by police escorts.

Organizers of the “Save Our Children” demonstration said they wanted to alert criminals and drug sellers who openly sell narcotics on the streets that their actions will no longer be tolerated in the community.

“We want to send a message,” said Miquel Espinoza, president of the Pinney/Bradley Neighborhood Watch Group. “We’re taking our streets back. Plus, we want to let the children be aware that they don’t have to get involved with drugs, that there is an alternative.”

Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Division Capt. Tim McBride said criminal activity in the area was “bad, really bad. It seems to have a real negative effect on the whole area. These people have seen the success of other neighborhoods who have banded together when enough is enough.”

The protesters gathered around a stage that had been placed in the middle of Pinney Street to listen to addresses by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), Deputy Police Chief Mark Kroeker and representatives of Mayor Tom Bradley and City Councilman Ernani Bernardi.

“The message we’re sending is that we care about our neighborhoods,” Katz said. “No matter how long it takes, we’re going to fight until we drive the drug dealers out of business.”

Ken Ashford, 29, a lifelong Pacoima resident, praised the demonstration: “It’s really good for a neighborhood to be pro-active rather than reactive. It’s good for us to take a stand.”