A candlelight gathering is planned to highlight crime and safety concerns in Sarnia on Friday, August 23.
Spokesperson Charmaine Kirk said citizens are feeling unsafe and want politicians to do something about it.
"It's peaceful, but it is to send a message to our politicians that something needs to be done about all of the crime that's happening in Sarnia, the recent attack on the police officer, we're all feeling that the businesses are getting discouraged, they're not opening their doors, the city's turning into a ghetto," said Kirk.
Kirk said local politicians from all three levels of government -- municipal, provincial and federal -- are invited, and Sarnia police have been notified.
"We want to bring light to this problem," Kirk added. "We don't feel politicians are addressing the issues. Things are getting out of hand, that's what we feel, that nothing that is affecting any real change or changing the situation is happening. We just feel that the crime is getting worse, we feel more unsafe and we want the issues addressed."
Sarnia police increased downtown patrols this summer, but reviews have been mixed.
While the owner of Silhouette's Boutique reported a noticeable decrease in questionable activity around her shop at Christina and Cromwell Streets, staff at Junior Baker on Lochiel Street announced recently they've started locking their doors during business hours.
"Open today... but with our doors locked. Please knock to enter. We hate to have to do this, but we can't take the risk anymore. We've had too many encounters to feel safe in our store. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to you," the bakery said in a Facebook post.
Kirk asks participants to meet at Sarnia City Hall on Christina Street at 7 p.m., then march south to Johnson Street.
"People are afraid to go out, they're afraid to go into the downtown area. It's getting more and more tense and we need something done," Kirk said. "We want to say, we're here and we don't accept this. We don't want this in the city anymore. We don't want the city to turn into Gotham City and that's what we're feeling, that things are getting out of control."
In an update to Sarnia News Today on Thursday, city police said the officer stabbed in the line of duty had been released from hospital.
He had responded to a welfare check at an apartment at the Seaway Centre Tuesday night.
A 36-year-old Sarnia man has been charged with attempted murder.