Memorial March Held In Railroad Park Less Than A Week After Jermanie Walton Was Fatally Shot

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(Gallery by Frank Couch | fcouch@al.com)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Several Birmingham residents marched through Railroad Park Saturday night to honor a 15-year-old shooting victim and to show their continued support for the city despite the recent tragedy.

Amanda Dickerson helped organize the event after reading an article on AL.com on the shooting death of Jarmaine Walton in the park.

"It said this is a scary thing that happened but we don't need to be scared to move forward and we don't need to be scared to go to the park," Dickerson said. "So we decided to just have a walk and have a moment of silence for Jarmaine."

Gabriella Oates, a Birmingham resident who moved to the city from the suburbs, said she's frustrated by attacks on the city.

"It's a bad thing that happened here," Oates said. "And a bad thing that happened in Vestavia and it's a bad thing that happened yesterday in the airport. And bad things happen in Hoover and Clay. And when bad things happen elsewhere it's okay, but when bad things happen right here suddenly it's just, 'Oh my God.'"

Oates said she wanted to march to make sure the park is available to everyone and to show it's not a bad place. "My children are here right now, and they're as safe here as they would be anywhere," she said.

A diverse group of about 50 to 75 people walked through the park, which had a heavy police presence, including three officers in plain clothes. Just after 7:20 p.m., the group gathered, bowed their heads and held a moment of silence in honor of Walton.

Most of the people in attendance said they did not know Walton, but wanted to honor and to remember him.

Walton was shot in the head March 17 near the skateboard park. No arrests have been made in the incident.

Arron Jackson, 29, of Birmingham, said he knew a member of Walton's family and he knew several others who were affected by the incident. Jackson said the event is tragic, but it shouldn't stop people from visiting the park or seeing the good in Birmingham.

"I just did this to demonstrate my remaining support of the community and the city as a whole," Jackson said. "I don't plan on giving up on my city."