Black teenagers march through London against gun and knife crime

Around one thousand teenagers from black-led churches in London are expected to take part in two simultaneous marches through the capital on Saturday to show their support for the parents of gun and knife crime victims.

Organisers say the Praise 4 Life procession is a Christian response to the wave of violence among youths not only in the capital but also across the UK.

Pastor Mary Macauley, of the De-Vine Sanctuary, a Redeemed Christian Church of God church, and principle organiser of the walk, said walkers were "standing in solidarity with the parents of the victims of gun and knife crime".

"The procession is to plead with God to help stop the crime, to plead with God to comfort the victim's family, to plead with God to stop and deliver the teenager to from evil," she said.

Pastor Macauley, who also heads a school for children excluded from mainstream secondary education, said that young people taking part in the march would play music and sing praise songs to highlight that not all young people are involved in gun and knife crime.

"Rather than using their hands to stab someone [or] pull a trigger, there are some young people who are using their hands to beat drums and play instruments and worship God," she said.

The walks, one starting in north London and one in the south of the city, will culminate in a rally at Hyde Park, to be joined by families of gun and knife crime victims.

The Praise 4 Life procession forms part of the People's March, supported by CrimeStoppers, The Mirror newspaper and London-wide radio station Choice FM.