More than 100 people go on South Cape march Saturday morning

The number of people who marched through Cape Girardeau's south-side neighborhoods on a 34-degree Saturday morning was far less than the 1,000 hoped for, but the Rev. Byron Bonner couldn't stop smiling afterward. The goal was to revive hope for change in an area terrorized by shootings and a break-in and sexual assault in the past two months.

"I'm overwhelmed," said Bonner, pastor of True Vine Ministries and one of the chief organizers. "We've got the mayor's attention, the fire chief's, police officers'."

For Bonner, getting all the necessary people working together is the key. "We know there are solutions," he said.

The marchers included Mayor Jay Knudtson and his 14-year-old son Gunnar, Councilwoman Debra Tracy, Councilman Charlie Herbst, police chief Carl Kinnison, fire chief Rick Ennis, Cape Girardeau Schools superintendent Dr. Jim Welker, Jefferson School principal Mark Cook and United Way executive director Nancy Jernigan. Other school administrators and teachers also were there. As Knudtson pointed out, people from all over Cape Girardeau and from different socioeconomic backgrounds showed up to march.

"This has really started us on the path we need to be on. We need to be focused on our entire community," he said. "This is not just about South Cape. They are part of our entire community. They're troubled right now."

Many Cape Girardeau churches also were represented by pastors and congregation members, and not just those on the south side. Among them were Freedom Road Ministries, New Bethel, New Visions, In His Image Ministries, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Christ Episcopal Church, LaCroix Methodist Church, Cape First Church and Christ Church of the Heartland.

Well over 100 people participated in the march that began at Ranney Park and wove through south side neighborhoods until reaching the Freedom Road Ministries church on the south side.

Along the 4.2-mile route, some people came out of their houses to greet the marchers, who were led by a truck pulling a trailer and a band playing Christian music. Others stayed inside. "You see little kids peeking out their windows. You see little kids peeking through the doors. They don't necessarily think anybody cares about them," Knudtson said. "I hope this demonstrates a real commitment to what the city feels about them."

The marchers walked through neighborhoods where condemned houses and houses obviously uncared for stand next to homes with sparkling holiday decorations and tidy yards. "I see things that as a mayor you're not proud of," Knudtson said.

The city needs to instill pride again, the mayor said. "In many cases we need to take a stance and hold these landlords, many of which are absentee, accountable."

James Thompson was one of 11 members of a Teen Challenge evangelism team participating Saturday. Thompson ended up here after losing his home to Hurricane Katrina and his 20-year-old son to murder in New Orleans.

He's seen much worse than these neighborhoods. "I find it hard to believe we can't so something in South Cape," he said. "The community has to take control."

When he graduates from Teen Challenge in two months Thompson will attend a trade school in Springfield, Mo. While here he's involved with a number of churches' youth programs. "The adults have to come together before the kids will see the light," he said.

On the most troubled street, South Hanover Street, Earlean Thomas came out of her house to hug some of the marchers. Her husband, the Rev. Johnny Thomas, started the march off with a prayer. "It began with a prayer and will end with a prayer," she said of the new movement.

Marcher Renee Johnson lives on the south side. "I'm here to take back the streets," she said. "We need change."

She said more Christians need to get out and get busy taking the streets back. "You can't be scared," she said.

Terry Kitchen grew up on the south side of Cape Girardeau, became a local sports hero and has taught and coached in the Cape Girardeau schools for 31 years. "Being in South Cape is very special to me," said. "'I've got students from South Cape, I've had friends from South Cape and family from South Cape."

He marched to help see that the violence that has erupted on the south side and terrorizes its residents is not repeated.

"But this is not just a problem in South Cape," Kitchen said. "We need to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen all over Cape Girardeau."

Tracy thinks construction to begin next year on a south side community center at Shawnee Park will help with some of the problems caused by people gathering in the streets. "People like to have something that feels like the heart of the community," she said.

At the same time, she said, "I don't know if the problems can be totally eliminated, but they can be minimized and more clearly identified.

"The neighborhood itself has to become involved. "

The march can't be just a one-day event, many said. "The next step is to take this small army and make it a bigger army and have it branch out," Knudtson said.

"... I see real excitement. I see a lot of love, a lot of Christianity -- all the foundation that is going to take these neighborhoods back."

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