They're common in New Orleans, but this second line parade carries special meaning.

It’s a gathering of friends, family, and neighbors to honor the memory of Dinneral Shavers, who was gunned down two years ago from Sunday.

The popular musician and teacher was known for his efforts in promoting music education in schools. Fittingly, this crowd danced to the rhythms of Shavers' former group, the Hot 8 Brass Band.

"We decided instead of crying, to come out and celebrate it in a positive way," said Nakita Shavers,Dinneral’s sister.

Nakita Shavers has been through a lot since her brother's death, from mourning his loss to enduring a turbulent trial that left David Bonds, the prime suspect, acquitted. While this second line ceremony is billed as a celebration, she can't keep from reflecting on the many setbacks she's been through in her quest for justice.

"I fought so hard to expedite it, you know, through the system and make sure it received all the attention and respect that it deserved, but at the end, somehow it fell apart," Nakita Shavers said. “You want to have hope and trust into the system, which is something I had the entire time, but at this point, I'm just real confused and I'm in a very tough situation. But in order for our city to completely recover and completely come back, there's no doubt about it: we have to have a judicial system that can convict criminals."

Specifically, Shavers hopes for a day when witnesses won't back down because of intimidation. Through her work with Silence is Violence, she's trying to do her part, but it hasn't been easy.

"Citizens are now discouraged again, you know. So we're in a very, very tough situation,” Nakita Shavers said. “You know, we're sitting here trying to encourage citizens to come forward, but at the same time we're deadlocked into a situation because our criminal justice system can't back up what we're saying."

But she hopes the two year anniversary of her brother's murder will serve as a reminder that a turnaround is long overdue.

"He had a vision,” Nakita Shavers said. “Basically he wanted to make a difference, you know. He was very, very active in the recovery efforts of our city. He wanted to see our city come back."

Sunday was also the deadline for a city-wide essay contest, hosted by the Dinnerral Shavers educational fund. New Orleans area high school students were asked to submit essays describing how the city affects their lives. Three winners will receive scholarship money.