Twenty shootings have been confirmed by Elkhart Police, many of them in the city’s south side.

Wednesday afternoon, city leaders and community members met at Roosevelt Park to discuss the increase in gun violence. The big message of the day was “if you see something, say something.”

“I’m asking you again today as a citizen of this city, and life-long resident, please put the guns down,” said Robert Taylor, President of the Black Expo. “If you see something, say something. That’s the only way this is going to stop.”

Mayor Tim Neese spoke specifically about the shooting of a 13 year-old boy earlier this month.

“He suffered non-life threatening injuries, but that incident could have been much different,” said Mayor Neese. “This type of activity will not be tolerated by the Elkhart Police Department and it should not be tolerated by the citizens of Elkhart.”

ABC 57 News asked Mayor Neese if there is a connection between defunding the Tolson Center and the uptick in gun violence, “I don’t know that there is,” said Mayor Neese.

But others in the community, like Jesse Cruz, think investing in the Tolson Center would help the issue of gun violence.