Stop the violence rally in New Haven

New Haven, CT (WTNH) - A large and spirited crowd packed a street corner in New Haven Sunday afternoon saying this is not the time to point fingers and that when it comes to stopping the violence everyone is accountable.

There voices were loud and determined and they are tired of their concerns falling on deaf ears.

"Come out from out of your homes! Walk around your own block like you do own it," a community leader shouted out to the crowd.

There were any passionate calls to stop the killing on New Haven's streets.

"We ain't playing out here. You might be playing but we ain't playing," exclaimed another.

Pastors, elected officials and people sick and tired of the violence rallied at the corner of Dixwell and Henry -- the scene of the latest homicide -- saying the shooting has to stop. Enough is enough.

Five homicides in the past week with two in the last 24 hours. The latest victims are 29-year old Kenneth Thomas of New Haven shot to death Saturday on Charles Street and hours later, 19-year old Tywan Turner, of Hamden, was killed a block away.

"I'm glad to be here 'cuz I have change in my life," said one young man who stood up to speak to the crowd.

These are stories of young men who turned their lives around.

"We take the guns away we wont' have so much murder," said Shelton Tucker.

He used to run the streets and now he's committed to taking them back.

'It's not just the fathers, the moms," Shelton Tucker went on. "We have to address how these guns are getting here."

Cassandra McCoy Green knows the pain of murder. Her son was killed in New Haven in 1992. She started rallying and says more than ever now New Haven needs to come together as a comunity.

"I want everybody out here to keep going grab a child something has to be done," she said.

Whether it's tougher lows a curfew, better education, jobs or mentoring, the leaders of this rally aren't giving up on their kids.

From the politicians to the people living in these neighborhood where gunfire has become commonplace, they say it's time to stop talking and start doing.

"I'm not looking for the mayor but I'm looking and say let's go get our kids and nobody seems they care," a community leader said with passion.

Several of the people at the rally were critical of the way the city has been dealing with the violence. News Channel 8 spoke with New Haven Mayor DeStefano on how the city plans to use more resources to fight the violence.

On Monday, Mayor DeStefano and Police Chief Limon will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. at City Hall to talk more about how the city is reacting to the ongoing violence.