CHICAGO, IL – In the Little Village neighborhood on the city’s Southwest Side, a Christmas tree has become a symbol of remembrance and justice for families of victims of unsolved violence. Dubbed the Little Village Justice Tree, the tree is adorned with ornaments featuring the faces of those who have lost their lives to senseless acts of violence.

Families gathered on Sunday to place ornaments on the tree, including 4-year-old Jacob Abdallah Jr., who put up pictures of his late mother and father. His father, Jacob Abdallah Sr., was tragically killed in a shooting just days before his son was born in 2019. Not long after, Abdallah Jr.’s mother, Perla Andrade, was killed in a hit and run on I-55.

The Little Village Community Council’s Committee for Mothers and Fathers United for Justice came together to decorate the tree and wrap Christmas gifts for children in the community. The pain and grief are shared among the families, such as Arturo Daza, who lost his 25-year-old son Israel Mendez to a shooting in Forest Park in March 2021, and Elizabeth Brant, whose brother Jesus Brant Jr. was shot and killed in Brighton Park in January 2022.

Baltazar Castro, the father of Jessica Castro who was shot and killed during a fight in Brighton Park, expressed the difficulty of explaining the situation to their children. With the help of the Little Village Community Council, the Castros have been able to re-open their daughter’s case in their quest for justice.

The Christmas tree serves as a poignant reminder of the unresolved cases of violence that continue to impact families in the Little Village community. As they come together to honor their loved ones, they also join in the pursuit of justice for victims who have not seen closure in their cases. The Little Village Justice Tree stands as a symbol of remembrance and hope for these families as they seek solace and resolution in the face of tragedy.