Summer, is a time when the warm sun kisses your skin, kids are out of school, people enjoy themselves and create new memories. But in the City of Chicago, it’s also a time of uncertainty and danger.
The Past
Crime here in Chicago has been plaguing people for many years. This includes robberies, carjackings, and most importantly, gun violence that claimes many lives. Violent crimes tend to rise during the summer season, especially during holiday weekends. The result is that people become more aggressive from the heat as well as a higher chance of perpetrators being outside.
In the past five years, general criminal activity had shown a decrease from 2019-2021, with 2022 witnessing a spike. However, 2021 had the highest murder rate, with a count of 804 homicides, while 2022 had a decrease with a count of 695.
Even though there was a slight drop in homicides, it’s still an alarming rate to see. The people of Chicago still feel unsafe. Having to be on alert all the time, parents worry about whether their children are going to come home or not. This has caused the city to suffer a large population loss.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has set a safety plan and promised to stop the gun violence that is tarnishing the Black and brown communities by investing in summer youth programs as well as recruiting more police academy graduates and consistent patrolling.
The Present
In 2023, the number of shootings and deaths that have occurred thus far is truly saddening.
(Flickr CC0)
More than 376 shootings have occurred only from late May to July 26, with there being approximately 47 fatalities. The highest amount comes from both Memorial Day and 4th of July weekends.
People in this city can’t even walk, sit outside on their porches or celebrate without the possibility of a bullet flying toward them, cutting their lives short.
For example, in June, Terry’a Adams was at a gathering in the Austin neighborhood that was honoring her boyfriend, who had died in a car accident. People were enjoying themselves, dancing and singing before shots rang out, killing Adams.
In another incident, Ra-Shaun Hood, the grandson of well-known activist, Rev. Robin Hood, was gunned down, having been shot in the chest. His body was found on the sidewalk near 81st and Racine.
Both victims are remembered as kind and lovely people to be around. “She loved to be around everybody. She’s a people person,” Pinkie McBride, Terry’a’s Mother, stated. “She was always like a peacemaker.”
Ra’Shaun was remembered as a jokester. “Smart, sweet, funny, make you laugh, straight to the point,” said his grandfather. Both victims had bright futures ahead of them, only to be cut so short.
These fatalities are just two among many people who have suffered the wrath of these violent Chicago streets.
Call For Action!
A lot of Chicagoans are fed up with losing their family members to senseless violence. Pinkie McBride stated to Mayor Brandon Johnson, “You said you was going to deal with guns. I need you step up.”
Rev. Robin Hood suggests that we essentially need to speak up and tell any information we have when it comes to situations like this. And that we need to come together as a community to stop the violence, to stop people from seeing their loved ones in caskets before it’s their time.
So far, Mayor Johnson has put his promises into action regarding having constant patrolling of hubs for criminal activity. This approach is a small step toward a big issue that needs to be resolved immediately.
The amount of crime committed in Chicago is hurting our city and its people. Not one more day can go by without there being a step to fixing this issue as a community. We have lost so many lives already; we don’t want to lose anymore.
Written By Saniya Fields
Sources:
The Trace – All Eyes Are On Chicago Mayor’s First Move on Violence Prevention by Rita Oceguera
ABC 7 – Chicago Shootings: 46 shot, 9 fatally, in Weekend Gun Violence Across City, Police Say by Craig Wall, Eric Horng and Stephanie Wade
ABC 7 – 16-year-old Grandson of Chicago Community Activist Fatally Shot in Auburn-Gresham, CPD says by Eric Horng
Illinois Policy – Chicago Crime Spikes in 2022, but First Drop in Murder Since Pandemic by Hannah Max
Top and featured image courtesy of SJ Carey‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset image courtesy of Nathan Rupert‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
