Rally held in Liberty City following series of shootings

Event considered kickoff of Operation Restoration

MIAMI – Politicians, police and community leaders gathered to take their anti-violence message door to door on the streets of Liberty City.

The event is considered the kickoff of what area politicians are calling Operation Restoration.

"In order to get to the people who are really doing the crime, we have to come out to them," said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson.

The movement is specifically focused on high-crime areas in Miami-Dade County. The rally follows a series of shootings in recent weeks.

Community activists said they want change and that residents are too scared to speak up. Some officials insist the problem lies in a lack of opportunities.

"Nowhere to go. Nothing to do. So they sedate themselves with drugs and they meet like-minded people," said Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.

Wilson has even secured a million-dollar grant to clean up Miami-Dade County's northside district and beef up crime prevention measures.

Operation Restoration as a whole is bringing several opportunities back, and local leaders want residents know they're not backing down.

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About the Author:

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.