Overtown Mural Protests Violence, Promotes Peace

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OVERTOWN (CBSMiami) -- Law enforcement and local children came together Sunday to create a masterpiece promoting peace and protesting gun violence within the Overtown community.

About a hundred kids and Miami-Dade police officers got out their brushes to paint a 1,000-ft mural as part of the Moving Lives of Kids project.

Located at 60 N.W. 17th Street, next to Dorsey Park, the MLK Mural was designed by two artists fighting back against violence in the community.

"There's still hope for our kids, there's still hope for our future. As long as we stop to put the guns down and stop the violence," said Overtown 4 Life Entertainment artist Ira "YD" Walden.

Residents were encouraged to write the names of victims of gun violence on the wall, as well as positive messages as alternatives to violence.

"Our community has a lot of violence and we wanna try to stop violence," said youngster Marcus Anthony Caldera. "'Cause we want all of us kids to grow up to be what we want to be."

The event marks a particularly violent summer that saw several deadly shootings involving children.

"Rest in peace King Carter, rest in peace, that little girl, Jada, man. It's sad, man. It's sad," Walden added. "We need to stop this, man, and do more things like positive events like this and come together."

Residents were encouraged to write the names of victims of gun violence on the wall, as well as positive messages as alternatives to violence.