Community leaders call for more youth violence prevention

State Rep. La Shawn Ford talks during an anti-violence news conference. Photo credit Rachel Pierson

By Rachel Pierson

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Community organizers and leading doctors from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital came together Wednesday to talk about the need to prevent youth violence.

Dr. Samaa Kemal recalled a recent story about a teenager who came into the emergency department with a critical gunshot wound.

"Once this child arrived, we did everything in our power to restart their heart," Kemal said. ”Despite the heroic efforts of our team, which we do each and every time, we could not bring this child back to life."

Kemal says this wasn't the first child to die from gun violence at Lurie Children's Hospital, and unfortunately won’t be the last.

"Firearms are the No. 1 cause of death for children in Illinois and the U.S.," she said. "I know, without a doubt, that firearm death and injuries our children face are preventable.”

One state lawmaker said gun violence should be treated like a pandemic.

"We need an emergency response that includes parents, faith communities, schools, policy makers, physicians, healthcare centers, community leaders to step up and help Illinois' youth,” said state Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago.

Dion Harden is founder of the You Break It You Fix It Foundation. He said violence prevention starts with parents.

"It is our duty to make sure that we know exactly what our children are doing outside of our presence. We have to shelter them. We have to create the atmosphere for them to survive and to thrive,” Harden said.

Revin Fellows, co-founder of the non-profit Books Over Balls, says the solution needs to come from a place of love.

"We've got to saturate our communities and love on these Black men with jobs and opportunities. We have to love them to life, not death."

Other community leaders echoed the need for more job opportunities, after-school programs and mental health services.