CeaseFire: Rally for Peace 2/9/2013

When:  Saturday afternoon, February 9th.

Where:  North Chicago High School Auditorium

   Before arriving at the event, my mood was stoic.  I didn't really think much would happen today or that I would really learn anything.  (Just being honest)  But, after I left, I had a renewed faith in my community and still many questions ran through my mind.

  What is this entity, this CeaseFire program?  And why is it necessary?
              CeaseFire is an anti-violence program and an initiative of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention aimed at reducing street violence by using outreach workers to interrupt potentially violent situations.  And in the words of one Pastor who spoke at the event, "The reason why we have Ceasefire is because people are dying . . ."  And he was right.  People, young people, are dying needless and preventable deaths because of gun violence.

            This is not right.  In January of this year the murder rate in the city of Chicago was at 506 deaths.  The highest in a decade.   And most of the time the perpetrators of these violent acts are themselves minority youth.

            This rally was a cry for relief as well as a call to action.  For our community is in peril and we are to blame if this situation is not fixed. 

             This is not a game.  Especially to those who have lost a love one to gun violence. 

IS it unfortunate that we need an organization like CeaseFire? 
                Yes and No.   It is unfortunate that these measures have to be taken, but lives are on the line and bullets don't have names.   The next time it could be me, or you, or your child on a cold slab at the coroner's office waiting to be identified.   And since, this type of thing happens everyday in most urban communities, I don't call it unfortunate that we have organizations like CeaseFire working to prevent violence. I call it a blessing.

                  What is unfortunate is the circumstances that brought the necessity for CeaseFire about.
Too many people are saying we can do better for the disenfranchised but not many of those people are willing to get in the mud and pull them out.  The men and women of CeaseFire are doing just that.

                   Sometimes, just sometimes, a person can becomes so jaded that they think that no one cares.  Fortunately, I realized today that I live in a community that does care about itself. North Chicago, IL really came out and represented itself in a positive light this day.  And I can say that I am proud that I was there to witness it.

What can we do as a community to make change, real change, happen in our community?

               CeaseFire sets a provocative example:  The Violence Interrupters( ex gangbangers, drug dealers, etc.) are a special unit of violence intervention experts that work to mediate conflict on the "front-end".   They have picked up the mantle of community leadership that was in effect during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.  Moreover, they are proof that being a "felon" does not mean that you are a "failure".

Through these ex offenders, our church leaders and our politicians, can reach out to those who would commit violence and with a firm, kind understanding offer solutions before tragedy occurs.

IT may take more time than I have breath, but after today, I (miss stoic, miss jaded) am a believer that change can happen in North Chicago.  But we have to want it for ourselves.

If you want more information about the CeaseFire program go to www.ceasefire.com