This past weekend, Rev. Jesse Jackson led a march in honor of the late Hadiya Pendleton, a 15 year-old King College Prep student gunned down just one week after performing at President Obama’s inauguration.

Jackson, and other civic leaders, implored President Obama to use his voice and influence to lead a national conversation on the crisis of gun violence in his hometown.

From the Huffington Post:

“The president’s voice is so urgently needed here,” said Rev. Jesse Jackson during a Saturday march, according to The Guardian. “[That alone] would illuminate the condition.”

…

Jackson argued Obama’s presence in his hometown would demonstrate “ultimate national seriousness” according to NBC Chicago.

Jackson wants the president to approve federal measures that would address the soaring homicide rate, which he called a crisis unlike any other city—and one Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the police department can’t handle alone.”

Read more at HuffingtonPost.com

We agree with Rev. Jackson. President Obama cannot solve the crisis of gun violence alone. But he can call the nation to consciousness about the need for a response to this crisis.

That’s why we started a petition last week, asking that President Obama make a speech addressing gun violence in the Windy City.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION