Current and Ex Gang Members Hold News Conference in Columbus Park

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by Wendell A.LaGrand

Several men who said they were representing Chicago street gangs addressed the media during a news conference last Thursday in Columbus Park. The reason for the event seemed in part, to clarify their position, in other ways, to address a new approach to gang violence, now used by the Chicago police.

The press conference was to say, we need jobs for the kids. Everybody here is an ex someone, said Jesse B. Allen Jr., 49, who also said he was in prison for 27 years, adding that I was

in the gang thirty years. We all came together about the concerns of our community. We need to do something about it, Allen said.

Theyre shooting each other over drugs, said Reginald Akkeem Berry, who admitted hes a former member of the Four Corner Hustlers. What can we do now? Declare a real war on drugs. It will stop the violence, Berry said, We just need opportunities.

The unusual meeting was arranged by a group called S.O.S., a neighborhood organization that stands for Saving Our Sons from Death and Destruction, Allen says.

We try to encourage them to live a better life, Allen said, referring to the gang members that he often speaks to on the busy streets of the west side of the city.

The only thing they say is I aint got no job. We gotta get it anyway we can.

I tell them you can find a job. If they are given an opportunity they wont have to result to low paying jobs. I try to use wisdom, Allen said.

The group spoke to a wide variety of issues. They also criticized Mayor Daley and Chicago police Supt. Jody Weis for assembling a controversial meeting last month between police and gang leaders, where some in attendance claimed they were tricked into attending.

Community activists and individuals claiming to be current and former gang members said

Weis should be offering alternatives to violence, rather than offering ultimatums to gang members.

But on WGN-TV, Daley said, Unfortunately, everybody complains about police, while Weis admitted that the meetings [with gang members] would not deter all the violence. I dont view it as the panacea to stop all crimes. It certainly seemed like a worthwhile effort, even to try, he said.

Mayor Daley has been a defender of the practice of police meeting with gang members, stating [I would]Negotiate with anyone to have peace. Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald in the Chicago Sun-times called the meetings creative, while Gov Quinn and other political figures have spoken out against the strategy of the meetings, by questioning weather its a wise decision.

The strategy [of meeting with gangs] has been used by police departments in other parts of the country with some success. Boston implemented a plan where authorities meet with alleged gang members and parolees, warning them of the consequences of crime, but also offering job information.

The event last week took place right before more violence exploded in the city. Four men died the same day after being shot in a garage on the southwest side and a 15 year old was shot and killed near Cottage Grove Avenue and 78th Street on Chicagos south side.

From January 2010 to July 2010, 63-percent of the crimes in the city were gang involved (Defined as either involving a victim or offender with know gang association or the incident was gang related), according to a crime summary compiled by Clearpath, Chicagos Alternative Policing Strategy.

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