Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 September 2004 — Page 7

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2004

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PACE A7

VIOLENCE JACKSON

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Radio One Strategic Analyst Amos Brown converses with Shannon Driver during last weeK's event. (Photo/C. Guynn)

“During the meeting I gave some solutions to what we can do, we took up some names of those who wanted to be a part of the coalition. What we are doing now is trying to organize another meeting to put the plan into action,” Hudson said. According to Indianapolis Police Department and Marion County records, Indianapolis has been faced with approximately 74 homicides since the beginningoftheyear. Last July alone, there were 15 reported homicides in which 12 were Black males. Officials at the Marion County Sheriffs Department say that they are continuously working to address the city’s violence issue. “We are constantly making patrols. We are patrolling as frequently as we can. Sheriff Anderson is doing all that he can with the tools that he has,” said Captain Phil Burton spokesperson for the Marion County Sheriff Department. Hudson and a host of other neighborhood leaders are calling for local churches, leaders and residents to come out in an effort stomp out violence. During last week’s Community Coalition meeting, area residents dispelled violent activities in their neighborhoods even parents came to describe how their children have fallen victim to neighborhood violence. The point of focus during the meeting was to educate youth about the dangers of leading a violent life. “Educatingthe people about nonviolence and to give them options is key in this community. If people don’t have options then they are limited,” said Hudson. Those involved brought up forming a mentorship program for area youths to get young people connected to positive adults and the coalition. Another key idea was to divide the coalition into small groups to effectively go out into the community with a strategy on a more personal basis. “The importance of this coalition is education, because if people understand the repercussion of violence then they are likely to shy from it. Not only those that are killed but those who are affected by it. We can create community and if I know-youthen I might want to try and listen to you,” Hudson said. Oftentimes nightclubs can be negatively stereotyped as having a particular clientele that is more likely to commit violent acts. Derik Kincy, coowner of Club 421, located on the city’s northwestside of town offers his insight. “Generally when violence occurs around the area of a Black club, the media tends to tag the club with conducting or condoning any negative energy,” Kincy said. “That is the (reputation) that the club gets and it just seems inevitable.” Hudson feels that procrastination plays a large part in the increase of violent deaths overall. “Indianapolis is no different from any other city. But I think that the reason that we are seeing this is because we have been waiting to get on the battle line after the battle has begun.”

betes, hypertension, prostate flanked by supportive members ers were disenfranchised and the w omen and the w orking poor is a new thing, and it’s craz> ," cancer, HIV/AIDS and infant of the Indiana Black Legislative real winner lost while the loser over the last 30 years. Jackson said. “We will be able to mortality among minorities. Caucus, addressed a combina- was exalted.” Ifeverything goes as planned, get support even outside of the Immediately after the general tion of pressing and politically Jackson warned that President the Indiana chapter will ulti- Black community as we put toluncbeon Jackson led a separate charged issues. Bush could still receive the Elec- mately become an interactive gether an agenda that’s more efroundtable discussion, which In particular he stressed the toral College victory in many grassroots organization that will fective in helping poor working featured input from distin- importance of African Ameri- statesevenifSenator John Kern’ recruit, endorse and field candi- people while lifting them out of guished government officials, cans getting registered to vote in wins the popular vote. dates for statewide offices and the racial barriers." civic leaders and directors of state this year’s elections, especially In a major turn of events, Jack- local positions in urban areas Many Indiana lawmakers and and county health agencies. for president. son called for the formation of an such as Indianapolis, Gaiy, Fort community leaders have pledged But it was during an earlier He encouraged more Blacks Indiana chapter of his Chicago- Wayne, South Bend and Evans- to help Jackson develop the new pressconferencethat Jackson is- to get active in order to prevent a based Rainbow/PUSH Coalition ville. Rainbow-Push Coalition chapter, sued the statements that had ev- repeat of the 2000 campaign, organization, which has been "The fact that we are waiting although no specific timeframe eiy one talking for the remainder which he called a “separate and honored for promoting social to be inspired from the top dowm for aetbities was announced, of the day. Jackson, who was unequal” election in which “vot- change on behalf of minorities,

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