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Local Groups Gather At School Where 5-Year-Old Was Abducted

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - As police continue to search for the person or people involved in the kidnapping of a 5-year-old girl from a West Philadelphia school last month, a group gathered at Bryant Elementary School Saturday calling for justice.

"No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace," the crowd chanted outside the school.

Members of women based organizations were among those knocking on doors asking anyone who knows anything about the kidnapping to contact the authorities.

Police say on January 14th a person covered in a dark colored burqa entered the Bryant Elementary School claiming to be the child's mother and left with the girl.

City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell was at the gathering showing her support.

"We are working with our state representatives and our state senator 's office to craft legislation that will certainly penalize people more who use religion or religious garb to commit crimes," said Blackwell.

The 5-year-old child was found the following morning after she was kidnapped hiding in an Upper Darby playground. (see related story)

An $80,000 reward is being offered for the arrest and conviction of the girls abductor or abductors.

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