Annual Watsonville Peace and Unity March seeks to end gang violence

Hundreds of community members flooded the streets of Watsonville for the 21st Annual Peace and Unity March on Saturday. People from all different backgrounds coming together with one clear message – peace.

Organizer Alan Hicks marches every year, but said this year is different.

He says the death of 4-year-old Jaelyn Zavala is something this community will never forget. In October, Zavala was killed by a stray bullet in a suspected gang shooting as she sat in the back office of her family’s restaurant.

“It’s a continuing issue, and unless we focus on continuing attention on it, nothing is going to change, ” said Hicks.

And Hicks said it needs to stop.

“The community is part of the solution, the police can’t do it themselves. We want to create that collaboration as much as possible,” he added.