Chicago mayor calls holiday weekend violence 'unacceptable'

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says street violence over the holiday weekend is "unacceptable."

Emanuel said Tuesday that there seemed to be more participation than years past in community efforts to prevent shootings.

Chicago police say six people died and 56 people were wounded over the Memorial Day weekend. Compared to last year the numbers of shootings and wounded people were the same, but the fatalities were less than half. Still, Chicago's homicide rate is much higher than last year.

It's the third year of the city's anti-violence initiative called Summer of Faith and Action. Churches from different sides of the city worked together over the weekend. Emanuel says participation this year appeared the highest. He's also calling for tougher gun laws and strict sentences for repeat gun offenders.