Talk about an uphill battle — eroding the bloodshed that is replete on Chicago streets!
But before you see the video on this novel program, I should acknowledge that I do disagree with the premise: that violence can be “cured” as though it’s a deadly disease. Violence isn’t a contagion, and in Chicago, the problem of its pervasiveness is rooted in the disintegration of the traditional family.
As opposed to being raised by a mother and father together, far too many young males in Chicago are bred in gangs and similar coteries because their father is in absentia.
The “thug life” is all they know. And it’s glorified in the music they like. It’s a vicious generational cycle that won’t end until we get serious about how important in-tact families are to a child’s emotional, physical, and educational well being.
Having stated that initial objection, the mission of “Cure Violence” is admirable and I do believe it can help reduce the senseless killings we read so much about in the Windy City. Basically, “Cure Violence” employs former gang members and convicts called “violence interruptors,” and their aim is to squash conflicts before they pivot into a beef that’s deadly. The thinking is that these former gang leaders are known and respected on the streets, thereby serving as mediators to de-escalate conflicts. According to the program’s founder, where the “interruptors” have been deployed, there’s been a drop in shootings of up to 50 percent in certain areas.
I spent the evening with three “violence interrupters” in one of Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods to observe their patrol firsthand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNMCqmZDwao