Photo by Dori McCormick

In response to an escalating violent dispute between two Wanganui gangs, resulting in the death of a little child, killed by a drive-by shooting bullet, the Wanganui Chronicle staff, together with the Wanganui District Council, invited all members of the community to join them in a ‘Love this Place Rally’, Friday 11 May, 2007, at Noon.

The Editor of the Wanganui Chronicle stressed in her editorial that this rally was not to be seen as a political grandstand or as an anti-gang campaign: “It is quite simply a gathering of citizens united in their pride in the place where they live”. The community is mourning the loss of an innocent life and saddened that there are members of the community that take up arms with the intent to harm and threaten others, but: “these actions define neither us nor the place we love”, she said.

The rally gathered in Majestic Square, where two large ‘we love this place’ flags were signed by hundreds of community members.