Prayer walk participants leave Santa Maria Foursquare Church at 709 N. Curryer St. on Sunday, embarking on a community-led effort to turn the tide of violence plaguing the city. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) 
More than 125 prayerful participants take to the streets seeking peace in Santa Maria and end to the violence. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk) 
Armed with signs protesting violence, more than 125 people participated in Sunday’s prayer walk. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk) 
Linda and Ricky Bailey hold a sign during a prayer session at West Main Street and Oakley Avenue, near the scene of Santa Maria’s first homicides of 2016. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk) Linda and Ricky Bailey hold a sign during a prayer session at West Main Street and Oakley Avenue, near the scene of Santa Maria’s first homicides of 2016. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk) 
Pastor Tim Mossholder, left, of Santa Maria Foursquare Church is joined by Gabriel Morales, director of the Center for Employment Training, before Sunday’s prayer walk in Santa Maria. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk) 
With arms lifted up in prayer, participants in the Santa Maria prayer walk gather near the site of Santa Maria’s most recent fatal shootings. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk) 
The group makes its way along West Main Street. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk)
William M. Macfadyen, Noozhawk Publisher
Bill Macfadyen is Noozhawk’s founder and publisher. Contact him at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com, and follow him on Instagram: @bill.macfadyen. The opinions expressed are his own.
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