WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Residents of Washington, DC are organizing a rally on Monday to protest against surge in murders in the US capital, the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church told Sputnik on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, local media reported the southeastern community of Washington, DC would hold a march Monday night after several murders have recently taken place in the area.
“The church is the one holding the walk [against homicides in Washington],” the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church representative explained.
A total of 77 people have been killed in the US capital since the beginning of 2015, which is almost 17% rise compared with last year, according to Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department.
The United States has the world's highest rate of firearm-related murders per capita, also having the highest gun ownership rate, according to the armed violence prevention group GunPolicy.
Majority of US citizens do not believe tighter gun control measures will end gun violence in the United States, a USA Today poll found in late June.
