She almost broke into tears, but Marsha Jones who lost her son five years ago to a gunshot stood strong as she spoke at the Hott 107.5 Peace Rally.

From a teen queen to the leader of the country, more than 200 people at the Hott 107.5 Peace Rally sought solace from these speakers, and shade, during four hours of contemplations over the Island's violence problems.

Hosted by the radio station and its parent Company InterIsland Communications, the event was held under the trees in Bernard Park from 3.30 p.m. until about 7 p.m.

It was organised in light of the recent violence, which claimed the life of 18-year-old Kellon Hill a few weeks ago but was also marred by the assault of one of the radio hosts only days before it.

Senator Thaao Dill was going to work at 5.50 a.m. on Friday morning when a man held him up at knife-point and ranted about Sen. Dill's comments on the radio.

At the rally on Sunday, the Senator said he had still not fully processed the event. He left the event early.

Ms. Jones, who had encouraged the Island to come along on Sunday, said she still hoped the community would come together before it is too late.

She said: "We have to come together as a community before it gets out of hand. Now we have babies killing babies."

"I am here to fight for our children, that they will be safe. Nobody likes that phone call. You are never going to know what's going to happen to you."

"I am not a speaker, I am just a broken mother who has started reaching out to others. I am going to save somebody from ending up where my son is."

Premier Ewart Brown urged the country to take stock of what they have and not to judge the problems on all of the youth.

He said: "We are looking in the mirror and don't quite like what we see."

"Ladies and Gentlemen one of the reasons you are here this evening is because you share the concern with the things happening with some of our young people.

"I don't want anybody to think this anti-social behaviour is coming from a large majority of the community."

But then he railed against the media for highlighting the suggestions made from a special cabinet session to introduce a SWAT team in Bermuda.

Appearing to catch himself before attacking the media he said: "If you leave it up to certain media, when Government had a special session after a couple of hours we have come up with only one thing."

"People who report like that should be... well this is a peace rally."

Wearing white, the crowd cheered on the other speakers and performers during the Sunday afternoon rally, which also kept the snow cone stand busy.

The Devonshire Church of Love, DCL Youth Group performed a powerful skit to music where a youth fends off the attraction of drugs and other vices.

While the newly crowned, Miss Teen Bermuda Islands 2008, Alyssa Rose also asked for the community not to judge all youth by just a few bad eggs and lamented the lack of support for the youth.

"Instead of criticising why don't you listen to us. Why don't you make them feel the love so they are able to love. There's not only negative things about our youth today."

"Our young people need more support."

Peace Rally quotes – Page 4