According to recent news reports, there were 141 homicides in Indianapolis in 2013, the most since 2006. In the first seven weeks of 2014, 26 people have been killed in Indianapolis. Last year at this same time, 20 people had been killed. Stop, enough is enough!
From Feb. 20, 2014 through Feb. 21, 2014, there were eight homicides in a 12-hour period in the city of Indianapolis. Stop, enough is enough!
I wish I had a singular solution that would remedy our city of these senseless acts of violence. I honestly believe that many well-intended groups are doing their best to address the issue of violence that appears aimed toward epic proportions.
However, what may very well undermine their efforts, especially those of the Ten Point Coalition, is that they are perceived by many as no more than political operatives of Mayor Greg Ballard.
The Ten Point Coalition must no longer allow itself to be used as a pawn to enforce the optic that all crime committed in this city is committed by Black people. And for a few pieces of silver equipped with little more than a fluorescent vest, cell phone, and a flashlight, it appears they do more responding to crimes than crime prevention.
What is also abundantly clear is that the Ten Point Coalition is not a part of the first responders when crimes occur in predominately white neighborhoods. You didn’t see the Ten Point Coalition on the Southeastside of town at the scene of that quadruple homicide.
They don’t hold sidewalk press conferences demanding that single white mothers do a better job raising their kids whose lives have been lost due to drugs and other acts of violence.
While the mission of the Ten Point Coalition may be of merit, the fact that they have become political minions in the hands of the mayor leaves much to be desired. Stop, enough is enough!
Given the nexus enjoyed by the Ten Point Coalition with Mayor Ballard, the entire community may be better served if they encouraged the mayor to broaden the tent of community stake holders in an effort to devise a comprehensive strategy that impacts crime in every community.
If Mayor Ballard used his platform to address crime from a holistic point of view by reaching out to Blacks, whites, Latinos, and people of all national origins that make up this great city of ours, we could see a real reduction in crime citywide.
However, what is even more troubling is the counterproductive rhetoric used by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Rick Hite that does no more than criminalize a culture and a people.
Chief Hite’s recent talking points while addressing acts of violence in our city suggest that somehow these acts are just “criminals killing criminals,” presupposing that if you’re not connected with this phantom criminal culture, you carry the cloak of safety in Indianapolis. Such comments are inflammatorily thoughtless and untrue.
The chief’s comment that “if you’re involved in at risk behavior, oftentimes you’re a victim” sounds much like “that’s what you get.” Stop, enough is enough!
Those words provide no comfort to residents of Meridian Hills whose homes were invaded weeks ago. Should those homeowners purchase less expensive houses and personal items to insure their homes won’t be targeted; or should they expect such occurrences because of where they reside?
Not one color or one culture should become the face of crime in this city. Crime is a real issue that we must all address regardless of where we live. Stop, enough is enough!
Rev. Stephen J. Clay is senior pastor of Messiah Baptist Church.
