11-24-2009, 07:03 PM
Hot topic -there are already 5 pages of comments. Many are good ideas on what Brotha Banks could do to solve this problem...
Epidemic of gun violence
Day of Outrage focuses on community
November 24, 2009
By KENDRICK MARSHALL <!-- e --><a href="mailto:kmarshall@scn1.com">kmarshall@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
![[Image: outrage.jpg_20091123_23_12_35_146-282-400.imageContent]](http://media1.suburbanchicagonews.com/multimedia/outrage.jpg_20091123_23_12_35_146-282-400.imageContent)
WAUKEGAN -- Accountability was the singular message a group of Lake County activists and residents wanted to bring to forefront.
A dreary Monday provided the backdrop for the National Day of Outrage initiative that brings attention to the epidemic of violence plaguing urban communities.
» Click to enlarge image
Chris "Brotha" Blanks (right) of the National Action Network of Lake County organized a protest in front of Mike Shrank's Smoke 'N Gun, 2010 Washington St., Waukegan, on Monday to recognize the "National Day of Outrage.
(Thomas Delany Jr./News-Sun)
» Click to enlarge image
Rochell Reese of Gurnee protests in front of Mike Schrank's Smoke 'N Gun in Waukegan for the 'National Day of Outrage'.
"This is something that we have been talking about for a long time," said Chris "Brotha" Blanks, a local National Action Network leader and member of the Black Abolition Movement for the Mind and the National Action Network of Lake County, in reference to area killings and the beating death of Chicago teenager Derrion Albert. "These incidents really fuel us to become more progressive in holding ourselves accountable."
The small group joined thousands of other concerned citizens across the country who came together and spoke out that senseless killings will no longer be tolerated.
Led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network representatives have cited random acts of violence such as a 92-year-old New Yorker being struck by a stray bullet while watching television inside her home last month and a college student in Atlanta shot while walking to class as reasons for the day of awareness.
Lake County has featured numerous casualties of violence at the hands of guns just this year alone. In late June, 23-year-old Emmauel Johnson of North Chicago was shot on the 1300 block of Lincoln Street and died after being found unconscious by authorities.
Also in June, 22-year-old Jonathan Rush was shot and killed in the 1600 block of Sheridan Road. In March, 57-year-old Guillermo Legore was shot in the head and killed in his home in the 2300 block of Honore Avenue. On Jan. 6, Eric Crisp died after suffering multiple gunshot wounds in North Chicago.
"There is very little we can do about holding (the police) accountable if we don't hold ourselves accountable as a community," Blanks said.
Blanks, who has served jail time for various crimes in his life and now is reformed, said one of the keys to creating efficient communities free of violence is to encourage young people to use their talents and gifts in a positive manner.
"In changing my life around I knew the importance of using my talents to uplift the community instead of selling drugs," Blanks said. "We have to become more spiritual, family and community oriented."
Blanks and the group also wanted to bring attention to what they say has been a repeated pattern of injustice by law enforcement officials.
Standing outside Schrank's Smoke 'N' Gun, Tearra Smith told the story of how her boyfriend, Deleetre Tennort, was thrown in jail and had his gun seized earlier this year after he was arrested by Waukegan police for firing the weapon to scare off a robber who tried to break into his vehicle.
"I don't think it was fair for him to be treated that way," Smith said. She said Tennort did have a valid Illinois firearm's owner's identification card when he was arrested. "He just got tired of this guy trying to rob him."
Smith said Tennort was levied with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm for the March incident. Tennort, who did not attend the rally, is currently serving probation for the offense.
Smith and Tennort both plan to file a complaint with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, considering they allege others have committed the same act and have not been punished.
"We want to ensure in Waukegan that equal protection under the law is provided for all," Blanks said.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1901625,5_1_WA24_OUTRAGE_S1-091124.article?plckCurrentPage=3&sid=sitelife.suburbanchicagonews.com">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... gonews.com</a><!-- m -->
Epidemic of gun violence
Day of Outrage focuses on community
November 24, 2009
By KENDRICK MARSHALL <!-- e --><a href="mailto:kmarshall@scn1.com">kmarshall@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- Accountability was the singular message a group of Lake County activists and residents wanted to bring to forefront.
A dreary Monday provided the backdrop for the National Day of Outrage initiative that brings attention to the epidemic of violence plaguing urban communities.
» Click to enlarge image
Chris "Brotha" Blanks (right) of the National Action Network of Lake County organized a protest in front of Mike Shrank's Smoke 'N Gun, 2010 Washington St., Waukegan, on Monday to recognize the "National Day of Outrage.
(Thomas Delany Jr./News-Sun)
» Click to enlarge image
Rochell Reese of Gurnee protests in front of Mike Schrank's Smoke 'N Gun in Waukegan for the 'National Day of Outrage'.
"This is something that we have been talking about for a long time," said Chris "Brotha" Blanks, a local National Action Network leader and member of the Black Abolition Movement for the Mind and the National Action Network of Lake County, in reference to area killings and the beating death of Chicago teenager Derrion Albert. "These incidents really fuel us to become more progressive in holding ourselves accountable."
The small group joined thousands of other concerned citizens across the country who came together and spoke out that senseless killings will no longer be tolerated.
Led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network representatives have cited random acts of violence such as a 92-year-old New Yorker being struck by a stray bullet while watching television inside her home last month and a college student in Atlanta shot while walking to class as reasons for the day of awareness.
Lake County has featured numerous casualties of violence at the hands of guns just this year alone. In late June, 23-year-old Emmauel Johnson of North Chicago was shot on the 1300 block of Lincoln Street and died after being found unconscious by authorities.
Also in June, 22-year-old Jonathan Rush was shot and killed in the 1600 block of Sheridan Road. In March, 57-year-old Guillermo Legore was shot in the head and killed in his home in the 2300 block of Honore Avenue. On Jan. 6, Eric Crisp died after suffering multiple gunshot wounds in North Chicago.
"There is very little we can do about holding (the police) accountable if we don't hold ourselves accountable as a community," Blanks said.
Blanks, who has served jail time for various crimes in his life and now is reformed, said one of the keys to creating efficient communities free of violence is to encourage young people to use their talents and gifts in a positive manner.
"In changing my life around I knew the importance of using my talents to uplift the community instead of selling drugs," Blanks said. "We have to become more spiritual, family and community oriented."
Blanks and the group also wanted to bring attention to what they say has been a repeated pattern of injustice by law enforcement officials.
Standing outside Schrank's Smoke 'N' Gun, Tearra Smith told the story of how her boyfriend, Deleetre Tennort, was thrown in jail and had his gun seized earlier this year after he was arrested by Waukegan police for firing the weapon to scare off a robber who tried to break into his vehicle.
"I don't think it was fair for him to be treated that way," Smith said. She said Tennort did have a valid Illinois firearm's owner's identification card when he was arrested. "He just got tired of this guy trying to rob him."
Smith said Tennort was levied with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm for the March incident. Tennort, who did not attend the rally, is currently serving probation for the offense.
Smith and Tennort both plan to file a complaint with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, considering they allege others have committed the same act and have not been punished.
"We want to ensure in Waukegan that equal protection under the law is provided for all," Blanks said.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1901625,5_1_WA24_OUTRAGE_S1-091124.article?plckCurrentPage=3&sid=sitelife.suburbanchicagonews.com">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... gonews.com</a><!-- m -->