West Memphis, AR - West Memphis city leaders are calling for an end to Black on Black crime.
Councilmember, Marco McClendon, says several recent fights around the city are the result of gang violence. “We’re just trying to get a hold of this, because these are our children. And we’re trying to save them before we have to get law enforcement involved. So, we are trying to encourage more of the parents to get involved to help us out with this issue,” said McClendon.
Other city leaders agree with McClendon and are calling on more parents to get involved it their kid's lives. McClendon says he believes too man children are fighting instead of having fun because of gangs. He says that gang violence is leading to Black on Black Crime.
“Black on black violence… it’s enough is enough and it must stop,” says McClendon.
Concerned mother, Latorie Lee, says parents need to be more involved in their children’s lives and that is one of the reasons she attends her son’s basketball games at the Boys and Girls Club in West Memphis. “Children need to know that not only others looking out for them, but their mom’s are too, because it starts at home,” says Lee.
Estelle Smith says a little tough love will go a long way to help children stay on the right path. “When they get into trouble, most of the time they bring it to me because I’m hard on them. A lot of them think I’m mean, but I’m going to make them mind and they know that,” says Smith.
City Council Member, Lorraine Robinson, says tough love isn’t enough. She says the children also need a history lesson about the obstacles African Americans have overcome throughout the years. “If we could teach them about all of these various things, then I think they would be more appreciative to know that we are a people that came from nothing and now we’re somebody. And we don’t want to go back to nothing through violence,” says Robinson.
McClendon says several members on the West Memphis City Council want to fund youth programs that will keep kids busy. Among some of the ideas being tossed around; funding an internet cafe and renovating a local community center.
It's your turn to Speak Up! Memphis.
