Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons called for funding for unarmed peacekeepers in schools during a press conference on City Hall's steps today saying, "when underserved communities are at risk, you're all at risk."
The hip hop mogul joined NYC Council members Leroy Comrie, Ruben Wills, Jumaane Williams and Terrie Williams along with NYC nonprofit Life Camp founder Erica Ford to draw attention to gun violence in the black community where he says the issue is being ignored.
"No matter how much we scream it seems that our calls aren't answered," Simmons said.
"The recent Sandy Hook incident put gun violence in the forefront but there's a Sandy Hook every weekend in Chicago."
Citing a bloody weekend in Chicago when 56 young people were shot, Simmons argued that the story was dismissed because it happened in a minority community.
"The Sandy Hook incident and other incidents like it are important and have brought this discussion to the forefront, but still it seems that these kids are left out."
Simmons asked for funding for nonprofit organizations like Life Camp, Man Up and I Love My Life that promote peace through unarmed patrol officers and offer counseling to emotionally troubled people.
"It's a real national problem," Simmons said.
"We have the peacekeepers in 25 cities and they're just getting started but they need funding as well.
Maybe some of the ed deform billionaires and hedge fundies can put some money to this?
Maybe Mayor Michael "I'm Going To Single-Handedly Save You From the NRA!" Bloomberg can put some money toward this?
Or are testing initiatives and teacher evaluation programs the only things these guys fund?
Never forget that at least a portion of violence in Chicago is due to the ed policies of Arne Duncan and his closing school policies which forced gangs of kids to cross certain geographical lines they wouldn't have if the neighborhood schools weren't being destroyed. Would I charge Duncan with murder? Hmmm, let me think on that.
ReplyDeleteGeez does this remind anyone of the fine mess the Euros made of Africa when they came barging in to enrich themselves at the expense of the locals and the complete disrespect of their established local boundaries? I guess the game never ends huh? White folks with money will run over poor black folks ever chance they get? It's painfully racist I guess to see the analogy but it would be even worse to pretend not to notice it.
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