Violence is the voice of the unheard of!

Martin Luther King said, “A riot is the language of the unheard” and that is the message that American leaders did not hear decades ago.

On May 29, 2020, thousands of people marched through the American streets. George Floyd’s death sparked unrest across America. So how can we prevent anger and riots against the police from happening again and again?

During the Corona Virus pandemic, Americans listened to their leaders and stayed home, wore masks, and socially distanced themselves from family and friends. They felt involved and even admonished each other if their fellow citizens did not wear a mask. Why … because they were “in this together” and they all wanted to be safe.

When the country began to open up, the death of George Floyd sent people to the streets to protest against the police. They no longer felt “in it together.”

So how do we get people to “get involved together” to help make cities safer for everyone?

Community involvement is the key! When citizens actively work together, they do not feel powerless because they have a voice.

As a crime and violence prevention specialist for 40 years, I brought people together and taught residents how to protect their families and take responsibility for neighborhood safety. By empowering citizens, we reduced crime, improved community-police relations, and at the same time reduced fear by bringing neighbors together. The national average is 2.5 police officers for every 1,000 citizens. It is impossible for the police to protect you! Everyone must work together to stay safe.

Over the years, I saw crime grow out of control in some areas with gangs taking over. Today violence costs taxpayers $ 229 billion a year. Last week in Chicago, 10 people died and 30 were injured. This can and must stop! If we continue to ignore socially isolated citizens, allowing crime and violence to flourish, we will continue on this self-destructive path toward socialism and control over people’s lives. Freedom is an inner journey of the mind, body and spirit. Freedom does NOT come from the government or the police, but from how Americans choose to live their lives.

The vast majority of citizens want to live in peace in their community and keep their children safe, yet city leaders must do a better job of supporting residents with an understanding of how a democratic society and freedom can. help us all grow and prosper together. .