The Violence Project

I always appreciate using the arts to spread a message or just as a canvass to release, so here goes the details on a cool event coming up this weekend:

Yollocalli and Radio Arte present an Open Mic Night dedicated to the 23 young victims we have lost so far during this school year. Speak your mind and share your talent with the community as we all reflect on the recent violence with Chicago Public School youth. Poets, Spoken Word Artists, Musicians, Artists and kind hearted people are encouraged to attend.

FRIDAY APRIL 18th, 2008
4:00 - 8:30 PM
1401 West 18th Street

For more information please call (312) 455-9455 x 203, or tania@radioarte.org.

Marcus Greer was described by his family as being a good kid. After transferring to an alternative high school, he began to turn his life around, working hard to be a B plus student.

Sadly, he will be remembered for being the 24th Chicago Public School student killed this school year. Greer was shot and killed Tuesday night on Chicago’s West Side. What makes Greer’s death even sadder is that it came on the eve of the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings.

A 17-year-old boy was recently taken into custody in connection with Greer’s death. This brings to light one of the startling issues being overlooked in the coverage of student deaths: the fact that many of the victims are being killed by their own peers.

James Edwards/Medill

Chicagoans participated in one of the many nationwide ceremonies in memory of the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings. Organizers of the event in the Loop nixed the usual rally fare, preferring a symbolic act they hoped would draw passersby to their message, lying down silently on the ground in memory of each victim.