HUNDREDS of people marched through the streets to mark the first anniversary of the death of knife victim CJ Hendricks and call for an end to street violence.
Friends and family of the teenager, who was stabbed to death in Walthamstow on August 24 last year, were joined on the memorial walk by the local community and representatives of the council
Former Eastenders star Brooke Kinsella, whose brother Ben was murdered last year, also attended.
Wearing t-shirts with CJ's photo and carrying placards saying 'Get a life, ban that knife', the crowd gathered in Abbotts Park, in Abbotts Park Road, Leyton, at 1pm, where a bench was unveiled by his parents, Charles and Melanie Hendricks.
The four hundred-strong crowd then marched up Leyton High Road and Hoe Street, before gathering in Walthamstow town square, close to where CJ was killed.
Mrs Hendricks thanked everyone for taking part and Mr Hendricks Snr added: “Today is a special day. You don't know what your future holds for you so you have to take this walk very seriously.”
Brooke Kinsella said: “Unless you've been through it yourself, you cannot understand how it feels to have a brother or son snatched from you.
“Some people say what is one walk going to achieve? But it is in remembrance. And there is safety in numbers. The more people who say no to guns and knives, the less power they will have.”
Borough commander Mark Benbow said: “In the four years I have worked in this borough I have seen too many people stabbed and killed. My condolences go out to CJ's family – it is one life too many. We are losing too many youths in this borough.”
Chief Supt Benbow said in addition to knife arches and projects in school, a youth engagement team has been launched today, with officers working with gang members and youths to try to prevent crime.
Cllr Afzal Akram, cabinet member for community safety, enforcement and protection, announced that a peace march will be held every September to remember all the young lives lost to street crime.
He said: “We all need to take responsibility for our children and ask, where are they, where are they going and are they carrying a knife?
“If we send out the message as a community that we will not accept knives or guns, then I think that is the only way we will get the message across.”
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