Twelve people have been killed in Camden so far this year.
CAMDEN -- Two double homicides, a son fatally shooting his mother and two more shooting victims who lost their lives in the City of Camden this April.
On Saturday, more than 40 non-profit organization will join with city officials for a "Peace in the Streets" rally.
"This was birthed out of the horrific and violent month of April in Camden," Amir Khan, a pastor and former Camden mayoral candidate, said Thursday.
The event, which will begin at 11 a.m. at the Camden County Police Department (CCPD) headquarters, will later march to City Hall where speakers and performers will be given the floor. The march will be led by a Camden fire truck along with a hearse followed by pallbearers carrying a coffin, organizers said Thursday.
'I just want to catch who did this.'
Taisha Mercado, who lost her 13-year-old son Nate Plummer in the city's first homicide of 2016, will be among those speaking. Along with the CCPD, the city's board of education and fire department will also be in attendance.
Organizers say the purpose of the event is to show solidarity with city leadership, create a 24-hour hotline for city residents in need and create a directory of service providers.
Other groups scheduled to attend include the NAACP, National Action Network, Camden Empowerment Center, Miss Camden Teen Pageant, Boy Scouts of Camden, United Mothers Stand and more.
Khan explained that grassroots-level groups began to form after Plummer's slaying in hopes of tackling the violence in the city. While attending a community forum on Camden policing last week, Khan said he spoke with CCPD Chief Scott Thomson and got the department on board with Saturday's event.
"People realize that this isn't about politics ... this is for everybody concerned about the number of murders in Camden," Khan said. "It can't just be about demonstration. There's a stance we're taking about unity in Camden."
According to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, 12 people have been killed in Camden so far this year. The most recent incident, which left 34-year-old Abdullah Fussell dead, was a shooting near the corner of 8th and Chelton streets.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.