Chicago Police are now offering a $40,000 reward for information pertaining to the shooting death of 15 year-old Hadiya Pendleton.

Originally $11,000, the department was able to up the dollar amount after donations from the public.

The increased reward was announced just prior to anti-violence march in her honor on Saturday.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Dozens of adults and children marched this afternoon from King Prep High School to Harsh Park, the scene of the shooting.

They were escorted by at least six police vehicles as the crowd chanted, urging anyone with information about Pendleton’s slaying to come forward.

“If you know who did this, turn them in!” shouted Melvin, a man who led the march but did not want to provide his last name out of fear of retaliation. “If you don’t support this, next it might be you!”

Read more at ChicagoTribune.com

In response to the escalating crisis of gun violence in Chicago, The Black Youth Project has launched a petition, asking that President Obama come to Chicago and deliver a major speech that addresses gun violence in Black and Latino communities.

We know that President Obama cannot solve the issue of gun violence alone. However, he can call the nation to consciousness about the need for a response to this crisis.

 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION!