Chicago Violence: Boy 3 Among 13 Victims Shot in America's Murder Capital
Just this week the FBI released statistics that Chicago was America's murder capital in 2012.
Although many dedicated Chicago law enforcement and community leaders are to be commended for their efforts, a full force response from the highest level of our government must ensure they have all resources needed to stop the violence.
American Crisis: Chicago Violence Toll Includes Boys, 5 and 7-July 4, 2013 Post
Tragic headlines continue to unfold as indicated in the July 5, 2013 Chicago Tribune:
"With the long Fourth of July weekend not even half over, the toll from violence in Chicago stood at 9 dead and at least 36 wounded today, including two little boys, 5 and 7, seriously hurt while at parks with their families.
"The victims since Wednesday afternoon also include a 14-year-old boy shot on the West Side, a 16-year-old boy wounded on the South Side and a cabbie shot in the stomach by a robber on the South Side.
"The youngest victim so far is 5-year-old Jaden Donald, who was shot in the abdomen and right leg while with his family at a party in Cooper Park on the Far South Side shortly after midnight.
"His mother, Jasmine Donald, stood outside Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn this morning in a gown, blood on her dress and shoes. She said she hadn't been at the park long when a young man started shooting."
As addressed in my previous blogs and October 6, 2009 registered letters to the President and Department of Justice the nation must rise with outrage to this senseless violence and respond with full force leadership:
Chicago Violence: An American Crisis-March 1, 2013 Blog
Chicago, our great American city continues making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Senseless recent tragedies include a 15 year old honor student killed on the streets who recently performed at President Obama's inauguration and a mother who just lost her fourth child to gun violence. This violence should outrage our nation from passivity to action.
Reprehensibly, the too little and too late response depicts not only a culture of violence but crisis of leadership. Are we doing everything possible to stop the carnage?
On October 6, 2009 I addressed this crisis with registered letters to President Obama, the U.S. Department of Justice and numerous officials throughout Illinois and Chicago. The response from the White House and Department of Justice was off the mark with generic style self serving letters from these highest levels of government. The head on collision of America's culture of violence and crisis of leadership that I have presented for many years continues with no end in sight.
Calling On President Obama Once Again to Commit Resources to Stop the Violence in Chicago-January 13, 2012 Blog
Vincent Bove Blog/Initiative Request Via Registered Letters to President Obama and the Department of Justice on October 6, 2009
When asked in an October 1, 2009 press briefing whether the President was going to address the Chicago violence concerns to the Olympic Committee, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs replied
"Obviously it's of great concern to the President, as somebody who lives in Chicago, but would and should be a concern for every American. This isn't a Chicago problem; this is violence -- youth violence is a problem throughout our country. The President is concerned and has asked that next Wednesday, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder travel to Chicago. They'll meet with officials from the school, meet with students and meet with the community to talk about the issues of school violence and youth violence."
"Talking about the issues" is simply not enough. It is time for action; anything less is just more politically expedient rhetoric.
I call upon President and Mrs. Obama to establish a Stop the Violence Olympics for Chicago—nothing less than a full-force effort and allocation of resources equal to that of the effort and resources that would have been necessary to host the Olympics. If hosting the Olympics would have been worth the effort, then the saving of lives from senseless bloodshed is so much more worth it.
According to various published reports, over 500 students have been shot, more than 100 fatally, since 2006. Most recently, the beating death of 16-year-old Derrion Albert has captured the nation's attention.
| AP Report 3 Charged in Beating Death of Chicago Student (1:28) | |
These sobering statistics of violence and death in Chicago indicate a state of emergency and beckon an immediate collaborative response from every level of the government and community. 
The eyes of the nation must now turn to Chicago, not as a city preparing for the Olympic Games but as a city committed to transforming a culture of violence into one of opportunity and hope.
October 6, 2009
President and Mrs. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President and Mrs. Obama,
Now that lobbying for hosting the 2016 Olympic Games is behind us, a more urgent task is at hand. It is time for an Olympian effort to end the bloodshed plaguing the communities of Chicago.
I implore you to make the elimination of violence in the windy city a top priority of your administration. If we agree that it would have been a worthwhile investment to prepare the city to host the 2016 Olympics, how much more is the value of human life? We must work to find a way to save lives, reduce hostility, and create a national model for the "audacity of hope" in all our urban areas suffering the scourge of senseless brutality.
So I propose that the White House declare a Stop the Violence Olympics for Chicago. As immediately as is possible, an organizing effort should be made on the same scale as would have been necessary to prepare the city for the Olympics. Resources from throughout government, private industry, and the local community must be brought together in a collaborative effort that will serve notice that violence will no longer be tolerated.
In addition, a torch should be lit in the city and remain burning as a reminder and symbol to all that we are serious about bringing change and hope to the affected Chicago communities.
President and Mrs. Obama, with the eyes of the nation and the world upon the devastation in Chicago, the time has come to stand with courage and certainty to answer the question "Can they stop the violence on the streets of Chicago?"
The only answer must be the same as the mantra of your Presidency—a resounding "YES WE CAN!"
Respectfully,
Vincent J.Bove
READ MORE
| Beating Death Of Derrion Albert, 16, Caught On Video | Click here to visit site |
| 508 Chicago Students Shot in 16 Months | Click here to visit site |
| 2008 saw increased violence in Chicago, statistics show | Click here to visit site |
| CeaseFire The Campaign to STOP the Shooting | Click here to visit site |
| Google Search: Chicago Violence | Click here to visit site |
Labels: Criminal Justice
posted by Vincent J. Bove, CPP at 8:20 AM
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