The gathering came in the wake of multiple shootings reported across the city.
"When is this going to stop?" community activist Raul Montes Jr. said.
Speaking at the event, Montes said residents are frustrated by continued violence.
"So, the carnage continues throughout Chicago, and we're tired of it already," Montes said.
Police are investigating at least seven separate shootings across the city that authorities said are not believed to be connected. Several people were injured, and at least three people were killed.
Among the incidents, police said a man was fatally shot near 45th Street and Honore Street around midnight. About two hours later, police said a 32-year-old man was shot and killed in the temple in West Garfield Park.
Roughly 30 minutes later, police said a 29-year-old man standing outside a vehicle near 28th Street and Kedzie Avenue was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Later in the morning, gunfire erupted shortly before 8:30 a.m. 400 block of North Leclaire Avenue in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, leaving three people shot and another also wounded. They were listed in fair condition.
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Community member Richard Zupkus said residents must take an active role in addressing violence.
"I'm not counting on the politicians to fix this. I'm not waiting on the police to do anything. We the people have to come together and figure out a different way of when we get upset with one another," Zupkus said.
Montes called on Congress to provide additional federal support for violence prevention efforts.
"Anybody could be the next victim here. So, we're calling on federal funding from Congress. We need more violence prevention initiatives. We need more police. We need more cameras. We need to work together," Montes said.
According to Chicago Police Department crime statistics through July 31, analyzed by the ABC7 Data Team, homicides over the previous 12 months were trending up 1.4% compared with the same period last year.
However, the murder rate during the previous 12 months was lower than the annual average over the past three years.
Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the shootings.
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