Village of Robbins Hosts Walk Against Violence
Village of Robbins Hosts Walk Against Violence
By Monique Smith
Most discussions of violence in this country and especially in the city of Chicago, have been centered on gun violence. In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in mass shootings, the police shooting and killing of unarmed black people and gang shootings.
But acts of violence have many names like domestic battery and sexual assault, to name a few. Violence is nondiscriminatory act. You can be black, white, Asian or Hispanic. You can be male or female, young or old, it doesn’t matter. Most often, victims of violent crime are random, some are targeted for various reasons that make them attractive to the predator.
Sexual assault is one of the most unreported crimes across the country and it’s often because of the stigma attached with being a victim or because society tends to blame the victim in sexually violent crimes.
The Village of Robbins has organized a Run/Walk Against Violence event on Saturday, July 23rd, in partnership with the South Suburban division of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. The Village of Robbins is hosting their 3rd Annual 3K run and 1.5K walk using the slogan “Talk the Talk by Walking the Walk”. This is meant to show victims of violent crimes that they are not alone and they have not been forgotten.
The YCWA Metropolitan Chicago is the largest provider of sexual violence support services in the state of Illinois. The organization operates the Rape Crisis Hotline, provides medical and legal advocacy, outreach, prevention education and counseling to survivors of sexual assault.
The Village of Robbins had been plagued with a rash sexual assaults, but more importantly was under fire for the way the village conducted investigations of reported cases of sexual assault and for reportedly mishandling more than 200 rape kits.
Robbins Mayor Tyrone Ward took office in 2013 at the onset of the controversy, but wants to assure residents that this kind of egregious municipal misconduct won’t happen again.
“We are cracking down on everything, we are saying no more drugs, no more gangs, no more killing, no more rapes and if that takes cleaning the police force, we are going to do that,” said Ward.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office had to step in and assist Robbins with processing the rape kits although some cases will never result in any charges because of the statute of limitations. Both agencies are working together to process every kit. Robbins’ new police chief Roy Wells said, “We have seen a significant decrease in crime over all in Robbins.”
As a result of what occurred in Robbins, legislation was created to institute checks and balances on the handling of rape investigations by local police. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart worked with Sen. Bill Cunningham D-Chicago and the Illinois State Police to craft the legislation.
Members of a community can come together to work to prevent some of these violent acts by organizing, watching and hosting events that highlight and help to provide services for those who are survivors. “Mayor Tyrone Ward’s Village of Robbin’s Walk Against Violence is an example of the investments any community may make to create a safe environment where residents are informed, victims protected and sex offenders held accountable,” said Dori McWhorter, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago CEO.
The Run/Walk Against Violence event being planned in Robbins is a community affair for the entire cook county region and the Village. Robbins is asking organizations and individuals to come out and support the effort and are encouraging other anti-violence organizations throughout the south suburban area to come out and promote their organizations agenda and programs free of charge.
Registration and check-in for the walk is located at 13600 S. Sawyer Ave., in Robbins, IL and starts at 8:00am. The race will kick off promptly at 9:00am. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the rape crisis hotline number is 1 (630) 971-3927. The participation fee for the walk is $10. For more information and to register call 708-385-8940 ext. 262.
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