Los Angeles, CA.--Candles were lit and tears trickled down the faces of mothers, fathers, friends and relatives Sunday evening in Leimert Park as they remembered loved ones who had been murdered by violent crime.

A coalition of victims rights groups also attended the Victim’s Rights Candlelight Vigil to kick off National Victims of Crime Awareness Week that is being held from April 26 through May 2.

Emotions ran high as attendees recalled their loved ones who had been gunned down by senseless violence as they displayed photos of deceased loved ones.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has proposed a comprehensive reorganization of how the city of Los Angeles delivers gang reduction and youth services to provide clear lines of oversight, accountability and performance measures.

The goal of Villaraigosa’s approach will target gang reduction services in L.A.’s most violent neighborhoods through Gang Reduction and Youth Development zones (GRYD zones) created by the Mayor last year. The 2009 budget proposal includes a 70 percent increase in funding for prevention and intervention services.