USPS workers call for more protection 1 year after letter carrier killed in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Postal workers say they need more protection in Chicago.

The union held a rally Tuesday morning ahead of the one-year anniversary of Octavia Redmond's death.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The postal worker was delivering mail last July when she was murdered on the job.

Many members of the community are still devastated by her loss. In honor of her, they are calling for change.

Union representatives said letter carriers continue to be assaulted and robbed and they want more protection.

It was nearly a year ago when the 48-year-old postal worker was killed while she was doing her job.

A 15-year-old boy was charged in her murder. Authorities arrested the teenage boy in Iowa.

Prosecutors said Redmond was tracked on her route and then shot several times in the West Pullman neighborhood.

Tuesday morning union representatives, elected leaders, members of the faith community rallied at the post office in Roseland where Redmond worked at to demand change.

"We are performing our duties...we are not messing around, we're performing our duties, rain, sleet and snow," Elise Foster, president of NALC Branch 11, said. "We can't do the bullets y'all."

SEE ALSO | 15-year-old boy charged in murder of US postal worker in West Pullman, Chicago police say

"I am here today to stand with our letter carriers," 21st Ward Ronnie Mosely said. "Letter carriers don't just deliver letters, they are a lifeline to our community...I want you to know if you come for letter carriers, you come for my community, And if you come for my community, you come for me and just like I am a public servant, these letter carriers are public servants."

Letter carriers are also pushing for state and federal legislation for more protection.

There is currently a bill in Congress that could change sentencing guidelines, if passed, anyone convicted of assaulting a postal employee they would be sentenced the same as assaulting an officer.

INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood