The Violence Project

This past weekend saw one of the most violent outbreaks across the city in recent memory. Reports vary on the total number of people who were shot between Friday and Sunday. The Chicago Sun-Times reports 37, while the Chicago Tribune and AP lists 32. What’s the same in each story is that six of the victims died, ranging in age from 18 to 65. The two youngest victims, Melvin Thomas and Rhonell Savala, were shot and killed right outside Free Salvation M.B. Churck on the South Side Friday night.

All but two of the shootings are reported to have been gang related. Police blame the rash of shootings on the warmer weather and gang tensions in different neighborhoods. They cited the last two years of the very same weekend to illustrate the cyclical nature of the violence. During the same weekend in 2007, 19 people were shot, while in 2006 the number was 21.

The shootings came in the wake of new report by the Chicago Police Department that showed crime down in the city for the first three months of the year, including a 1% drop in the murder rate in March of this year compared to March 2007. Police plan to deploy additional officers to what they call hot crime spots.

Overshadowed by the violence was the effort in communities to try and prevent it. One such event took place Saturday morning at Crane Technical High School, where student Ruben Ivy was shot killed one month ago. Students and other volunteers worked to clean the area around the high school and other designated blocks. In a press release, Ernest Gates, of the Near West Side Community Development Corp., stated:

“If something happens that involves a Crane student, there is a lot of negative coverage. The good kids are saying, ‘Hey, what about us?’ All the attention is placed on the kids with problems, but the vast majority of students are there to get an education and get on with their lives.”

Also on Saturday, La Dia de Los Ninos 3K Walk/Run was held to assist students at Benito Juarez High School with their future college education.

In addition, an e-mail campaign has recently surfaced calling for a citywide peace fast. No particular organization is mentioned, but it said to be the word of local-area ministers and clergy.

CITYWIDE PEACE FAST

‘A City United for Peace’
April 21st - 23rd, 2008
6:00am until 6:00pm

Thirty-one youths have lost their lives to gun violence this school year. Hence, the faith community of Chicago will corporately pray for unity and peace in our communities. Pastors and faith leaders are calling on all believers to deny themselves of something that will be a personal sacrifice from 6:00am until 6:00pm Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. You may deny yourself of food, meat, soft drinks, cell phones, or television but whatever you select should be something that is a sacrifice for YOU. Mark 9:29 says, ‘Some things come only by fasting and prayer!’ Therefore, we will fast and pray together as a city for three days for three specific things: 1. Provision, 2. Protection, and 3. Prevention. Jeremiah 29:7 says ‘Pray for the peace and prosperity of the city’. Violence anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere, so please JOIN US!

By all means, PLEASE share this email with everyone you know!

Thanks,

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Progress

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.

The Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence recently sent out a release lobbying for the passing of two gun control measures.

In the coming days, the Illinois House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the ICPGV priority legislative initiatives. We need your help to pass Common Sense Gun Laws in Illinois!

House Bill 758 would close the private sale loophole for handgun sales so that all handgun buyers would be treated equally and subject to the same background check requirements whether they purchase a handgun from a licensed dealer, at a gun show or from a private seller.

Senate Bill 1007 would prohibit the manufacture, sale and purchase of any large capacity ammunition magazine. These magazines hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition – some can hold up to 100 rounds.—and are often used with assault weapons.