A spokesperson for the White House announced First Lady Michelle Obama will arrive in Chicago Saturday to attend Hadiya Pendleton's funeral.
Pendleton’s death made national attention last week after she was murdered. A petition was posted on the White House's website asking President Obama to attend the funeral of the 15-year-old girl who was gunned down last Tuesday.
Another innocent victim to the daily gun violence that occurs in Chicago, Hadiya was in a park with friends when she was shot in the back.
With a promising future ahead of her, Hadiya’s loss penetrated the heart of the city.
A sophomore at King College Prep High School and a band majorette, she was shot just days after performing in several inaugural events held in Washington D.C.
Pendleton was killed just blocks from her school and several blocks away from the Obama’s Chicago home. She was just trying to find shelter from the rain, under a canopy with her friends, when the shooter jumped a fence, ran towards the group, and opened fired.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel indicated Pendleton’s death as a motivating factor to put 200 more Chicago police officers on the city streets.
“When any young person in our city is gunned down without reason, their death makes an impression on all of us,” Emanuel said. “And it demands action from all of us.”
Chicago teens and many others gathered several days ago to march in a rally for peace. Touched by this senseless act of violence, people are stepping forward and demanding for change.
The presence of the First Lady acknowledges this need for change; it may provide some comfort for the victim’s family and friends.
Governor Pat Quinn is scheduled to speak at Pendleton’s funeral to be held at 9:00 a.m. Saturday at the Greater Harvest Baptist Church, 5141 S. State St.
Visitations will be held Friday, February 8, at Calahan Funeral Home located at 7030 S. Halsted St. from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
At this time, no arrests have been made in Pendleton’s death and a $40,000 reward leading to her killer still stands.
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