New Orleans has long been a city with a laundry list of criminal activity. Many residents feel as if city officials don’t pay nearly enough attention to this issue, and in January 2007, after the murder of two respected New Orleans artists—Hot 8 Brass Band‘s Dinerral Shavers and filmmaker Helen Hill—thousands marched on City Hall to protest the city’s lack of leadership against violent crimes.

New Orleans Bayou Steppers/Silence Is Violence 2011 Second Line. Photo by Kim Welsh.

Shortly after, Silence Is Violence, an anti-violence campaign, was founded and today acts as the voice for those who have been ruthlessly murdered in the New Orleans area.

As part of their campaign against violence, Silence Is Violence is holding its annual Summer Solstice Second Line this Thursday, June 21. The parade starts at 6 p.m. at Sound Café, the organization’s de facto headquarters. The Hot 8 Brass Band will provide the music for the second line, which will be led by the New Orleans Bayou Steppers, a social aid and pleasure club tied to Silence Is Violence. Shamarr Allen, who works with Silence Is Violence’s music education programs, will march as this year’s king.

Here’s the full route for Thursday’s Silence Is Violence Second Line:

Start at Sound Cafe, 2700 Chartres St.
Proceed downtown on Chartres St. to Press St.
Left on Press St.
Stop at Royal St. and Press St. to recognize Homer Plessy.
Continue on Press St. to Dauphine St.
Right on Dauphine St.
Stop at Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Catholic Church
Left on Clouet St. to St. Claude Ave.
Left on St. Claude Ave. to Port St.
Right on Port St. to N. Derbigny St.
Left on N. Derbigny St.
Stop at Abundant Life Tabernacle Full Gospel Baptist Church
Continue on N. Derbigny St. to St. Roch Ave.
Left on St. Roch Ave. to St. Claude Ave.
Right on St. Claude Ave.
Stop at Hi-Ho Lounge
Continue on St. Claude Ave. to Elysian Fields Ave.
Left on Elysian Fields Ave. to Chartres St.
Right on Chartres St.
End at Sound Cafe

View New Orleans Bayou Steppers Social Aid & Pleasure Club/Silence Is Violence Second Line Parade Route in a larger map