HOLYOKE – “What do we want? Peace!” “Stop The! Violence!”

These were the call-and-response chants in English and Spanish that rang out Sunday at a march in the streets of Holyoke, as dozens of people braved the cold and wet snow to call for peace and remember a 15-year-old boy who was killed earlier this month.

The march started and ended at the corner of Walnut Street and Sargeant Street where Jonas Nuñez was fatally shot Dec. 12. Angel Gonzalez, 22, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with Nuñez’s death.

“I told my son time after time after time that these streets were going to take him from me and they did,” said Francheska Nuñez, Nuñez’s mother, who sobbed as she spoke at the conclusion of the march.

She also described how she would go around Holyoke and take him off the streets, and how her son was a lovable kid with a big heart.

“I worked with a lot of people … to try to save my son and my son was still taken from me,” Nuñez said.

Jonas Nuñez’s father, Jason Antonetti, also spoke at the march’s conclusion, and he said that he argued with his son about getting involved with the streets.

“Every argument we had I hope he understands that it’s because I loved him,” Antonetti said.

Nuñez’s father and mother both shared that their son struggled with mental illness, with Francheska Nuñez saying that he had both bipolar and multiple personality disorder.

“The kids here need help, especially mental help,” said Antonetti.

Nuñez also said that young people need year-round job opportunities, youth programs and mentors.

The march was organized by Ward 4 City Councilor Libby Hernandez, who represents the area where Nuñez was killed.

“We have to make sure that we come together and save our youth, because they need saving,” said Hernandez, just before the march began.

Also present were Ward 2 City Councilor Terence Murphy, Ward 1 City Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez, and At-Large City Councilor Rebecca Lisi. A police escort was present, as were members of the school and veterans departments.

In addition to remembrances of Nuñez, speakers also spoke about improving educational opportunities for youth.

“Last year, we had an opportunity to build two new middle schools, and this city voted that option down,” said Lisi.

Many of the speakers chose to address the crowd in Spanish.

In an interview Hernandez said that the pandemic has worsened the violence in the area.

Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.

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