Families of gun and knife crime victims are to join two peace marches across London to Hyde Park.

Relatives of Damilola Taylor, killed in 2000, and Ben Kinsella, stabbed to death this year, are taking part.

The idea was started on Facebook by two London women. The marches will start from Kennington Park, south London, and Caledonian Park in north London.

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'Enough is enough'

Organisers hope that tens of thousands of people will take part in a bid to stop people from carrying knives.

Gary Trowsdale, special projects organiser for the Damilola Taylor Trust which organised the event, said the rally was about taking a stand against violence.

He told BBC News: "It all came about from a group of people on Facebook, just coming together, really, and crying out for change after the death of Ben Kinsella.

"It's more about the people who have decided enough is enough, and before it happens to someone in their family, they want to come together and make a stand.

"The fact is, if we can reach out to the good kids, and there are a lot more of them, and everybody can come together like this, then there is no reason why this epidemic can't be put behind us."

The idea for the People's March, originally started by Sharon Singh and Gemma Olway, both 26 and living in south west London, has received strong backing from several national newspapers.

As many as 40 families directly affected by knife violence are expected to attend.

Rosie Ogazi, whose 21-year-old brother Antony was murdered in Stockwell in May, will be at the march.

'Not enough done'

She said: "Since my brother died I'd felt I had not been doing anything but now I feel like I'm doing something constructive.

"It makes me feel useful. It will be good to see that my brother's death has not been in vain."

Also attending the procession will be Ivette Bryon-Graham, whose son Javarie Crighton was stabbed to death in Peckham last year.

She said: "I've been blessed by the support of these people. I don't think I would have coped without it.

"I don't think enough is being done to combat the situation and this is a good opportunity to show that we are not going to give up the fight.

"If we save just one person then that would be a good benefit."

The marchers will congregate in Hyde Park at 1330 BST for a rally including speakers and music.

(BBC)

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