"Stop the violence! Save our sons! Save our daughters!" This is the chant that I heard in downtown Chicago as the community anti-violence organization CEASEFIRE held a press conference in front of the State of Illinois building. The press conference was in response to the recent tragic and gut wrenching murders of children in Chicago over the past few weeks. The spike in murders even have state legislators asking Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to assign units of the Illinois National Guard to help Chicago Police patrol high crime neighborhoods where senseless shootings and murders regularly occur.
The Governor will not send the National Guard into Chicago unless Mayor Richard M. Daley makes a request. Mayor Daley says stricter gun control laws and other alternatives should be used instead of the National Guard. Religious leaders and community activist have mostly condemned the National Guard idea and express the need for economic development (eg. Jobs), increase in education funding and after- school/Saturday programs for youth.
The Chicago Police Department made the point that homicides in Chicago have been trending downward in the past decade. Last years total of 458 homicides continued the trend of the numbers going down from homicides numbering in the 900's in the 1990's. Still 458 homicides is unacceptable and many are frustrated that senseless and often random gun fire is killing innocent 3 years olds, mothers, grandmothers and honor students who just happen to be in the middle of a shooting spree.
Many point to dysfunctional families in the African American community along with the toxic peer-group culture and the lack of jobs upon graduation from high school as the root causes of the crisis. There is a glaring need for a coherent strategy that is goal oriented and measurable. Whose going to stand up and lead this effort? One should not just say where is the Black Church, where are Black Politicians and why are they not doing more.
This problem calls for all people, all organization and all professions to join in the effort. The Black Church, Black Lawyers, Engineers, Social Workers, MBA's, Physicians, Educators and Tradesmen. The Black Church and Black Politicians are often the targets of criticism, rightfully so sometimes, but all segments of the community are responsible. All hands on deck or call in the National Guard.
The Governor will not send the National Guard into Chicago unless Mayor Richard M. Daley makes a request. Mayor Daley says stricter gun control laws and other alternatives should be used instead of the National Guard. Religious leaders and community activist have mostly condemned the National Guard idea and express the need for economic development (eg. Jobs), increase in education funding and after- school/Saturday programs for youth.
The Chicago Police Department made the point that homicides in Chicago have been trending downward in the past decade. Last years total of 458 homicides continued the trend of the numbers going down from homicides numbering in the 900's in the 1990's. Still 458 homicides is unacceptable and many are frustrated that senseless and often random gun fire is killing innocent 3 years olds, mothers, grandmothers and honor students who just happen to be in the middle of a shooting spree.
Many point to dysfunctional families in the African American community along with the toxic peer-group culture and the lack of jobs upon graduation from high school as the root causes of the crisis. There is a glaring need for a coherent strategy that is goal oriented and measurable. Whose going to stand up and lead this effort? One should not just say where is the Black Church, where are Black Politicians and why are they not doing more.
This problem calls for all people, all organization and all professions to join in the effort. The Black Church, Black Lawyers, Engineers, Social Workers, MBA's, Physicians, Educators and Tradesmen. The Black Church and Black Politicians are often the targets of criticism, rightfully so sometimes, but all segments of the community are responsible. All hands on deck or call in the National Guard.
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