Labor Day weekend was marked by gun violence in Chicago, with at least 54 people shot and seven people killed across the city as of Monday night.

Violence prevention groups called for more support from the community as President Donald Trump threatened to deploy the National Guard to address the violence. Despite the president’s insistence, Mayor Brandon Johnson has released data showing crime is down year over year.

In one recent incident, a call for a large disturbance near South Cottage Grove Avenue and East 35th Street in Bronzeville ended with at least five people shot early Monday morning. A 17-year-old boy was among the victims, and a person of interest was in custody.

“It’s upsetting because you have to think about the victims of gun violence right now in Chicago and throughout our nation,” said Tio Hardiman, president of Violence Interrupters.

Hardiman has been working for more than two decades to find a solution and to address the root causes of gun violence.

“Instead of the National Guard, we need a Black National Guard, and what I mean – we need Black men to step up and work with their nephews and their sons to see if we could turn this tide of violence around,” he said. “The problem is deeper than just the gun violence. The gun violence is the tip of the iceberg—we have to go back in time a little bit to try to restructure our community.”

Chicago police also responded to another mass shooting on Saturday night just blocks away from police headquarters in the Douglas neighborhood. Seven people were shot in a drive-by near 35th and State streets. That same night, a 17-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet in her Englewood home.

“Every time I hear about violent crimes like that, it’s hurtful,” said Charles McKenzie, Englewood First Responders founder. “For one, because nobody deserves to be shot -period. The work that I do to try to prevent gun violence—it’s saddening because we do so much.”

McKenzie’s nonprofit organization is made up of teens and young adults who are working to keep the peace in their neighborhood.

“We just got to get more stronger and come up with a better solution and how to attack the violence throughout our city, but I don’t believe the National Guard should be in Chicago,” he said.

McKenzie has boots on the ground, collaborating with police to bridge the gap and build trust. He knows more funding and resources are needed to continue their work, saying it starts in the community.

“We have to help to make our community better,” he said. “We can not point the fingers at no one, we have to work together as a collective to make a difference. My team is out there every day trying to de-escalate the situation the best way they can.”

Last Labor Day weekend, at least 42 people were shot and 10 people killed, the Sun-Times reported.

Source and Courtesy >