Violence in the streets, has it gone too far?

Urban America is filled with gangs, drugs and violence. It seems like nothing is being done to stop it. Sure terror is a global problem, but what if the urban schools are simply battle grounds and killing fields?

The real problem is it may be in Urban-America today, but where will it be tomorrow?

The following is the stoury from USA TODAY:

Nadashia Thomas, 6, participates in a vigil for her cousin Derrion Albert outside of Christian Fenger Academy High School in Chicago on Monday.

By Nam Y. Huh, AP


Four teens charged in fatal beating of Chicago student






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By Judy Keen, USA TODAY
CHICAGO — Darnell Myles didn't have to see the video airing on TV of Derrion Albert's slaying to find out that the neighborhood around Christian Fenger Academy High School is dangerous. Two of his children attend the school where Albert was an honor student, and they have long been "scared for their safety," he said.
On Monday, Myles drove his children, a freshman and a senior, to the far South Side school and parked outside until classes ended so he could take them home. One of his children knew Albert and saw the attack. "It was one side of town against another," he said. "It's a crazy thing."

Albert, 16, was walking home from school Thursday when he was beaten to death in a fight between two rival groups outside a community center. Four teens were charged Monday in the slaying. Police identified them with the help of the cellphone video taken by an unidentified witness. The video was provided to a TV station and given to police.


VIDEO REPORT: Slaying shocks, angers community
ON DEADLINE: Raw video of Chicago beating (warning: graphic violence)

In court Monday, prosecutors described the alleged attack on Albert by Silvonus Shannon, 19; Eric Carson, 16; and Eugene Riley, 18. Carson, who is charged as an adult, and Shannon are Fenger students. The three are being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder. A hearing is set for Oct. 19. Late Monday, Chicago police said a 17-year-old also was charged in the slaying. Prosecutors did not say Monday whether he will be tried as an adult.

The brawl was precipitated by a shooting outside the school on Thursday morning, prosecutors said. A 15-year-old boy was arrested after police alleged he opened fire from his bicycle on a 17-year-old boy, who was not hurt. That incident stemmed from tensions between students who live in Altgeld Gardens, a public housing project, and others who live in an area known as the "Ville."

Albert was "a bystander" to a fight later Thursday between the groups and didn't belong to either, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Jodi Peterson said in court. Carson and another person from the Ville approached him, she said. Carson hit Albert in the head with a railroad tie. The other person punched him in the face, prosecutors say. Albert fell, unconscious, prosecutors said, and when he regained consciousness, he moved away and tried to stand. He was surrounded by five Altgeld Gardens residents. Riley hit him with a railroad tie and Shannon stomped on his head, Peterson said.

Shannon gave a videotaped confession, said Andy Conklin, a spokesman for the state's attorney's office.

Like the murders in October 2008 of three relatives of actress Jennifer Hudson, the Albert case is reviving concern about violence in Chicago and debate about ways to stop it.

There were 307 homicides in the city from Jan. 1 through the end of August, down from 338 in the same period last year, the Chicago Police Department says. More than half of this year's homicides involved gangs.

"Misguided youth need leadership in their life. This is learned behavior," said Tio Hardiman of CeaseFire Illinois, an anti-violence group. "You can put all the police in the world in the city, but that's not enough," he said. CeaseFire intervenes in conflicts and negotiates treaties between rival groups, he said, and is working to prevent a violent reaction to Albert's slaying. Dwayne Overstreet, a minister, went to Fenger to pray for peace. "It's not that these young people don't understand the value of life," he said. "They haven't been taught the value of life."

Overstreet says Albert's death was a reminder of the "chaos" and disregard for life across the city. "It feels sometimes like you're in a war zone," he said.

"I'm praying and hoping that out of this will come something positive," said Martin Watt, a minister from suburban Harvey who came to Fenger to lead a hymn that intoned: I'm feeling so much better since I lay my burden down.

Community leaders held a news conference Monday asking anyone with information to come forward. Albert's relatives were there, wearing T-shirts with his photo and the words: "Gone too soon, too young."


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Comments: (2,668)Showing: Newest first Oldest first Most recommended New: Most recommended!

Rev Bookburn (12 friends, send message) wrote: 30m ago
dillenburg123 (0 friends, send message) wrote: 32m ago
Darwinism at work.

Really? Is that how you explain the terrorist killing of Dr. Tiller, the murders at the Holocaust Museum, the hanging of the census worker, and over 25 years of anti-abortion terrorism? Did you mean to say Creationism at work? Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta


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dillenburg123 (0 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 4m ago
Darwinism at work.


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Goose67 (2 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 13m ago
Redishblue... I understand your question, but here's another one... why do we rely on Bush, McCain, or Obama to give priority to this issue... TruthSeeker is right... the issue belongs to all parents, regardless of color or philosophy... and as for the big cities, this violent culture has been going on since before any of these candidates was born... And before you think I am cutting down the ethnic nature of these thugs, just wanted to let you know I trace my ancestry all the way back to Northeast Africa, over two thousand years ago... and to top it off, I can brag that my ancestry includes Native Americans, so they were here to greet my ancestors when they arrived... not everything is about city or culture... but the facts do speak for themselves...


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TruthSeeker (0 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 26m ago
Responding to:"Why does the US have the highest murder rate of any industrialized nation? And why didn't Bush, McCain, or Obama give any priority whatsoever to the violent and destructive subculture existing in our inner cities?" =====WHY? It is NOT the responsibility of the presidents to control violence. These violence are the responsibilities of the parents who neglect their children and NOT taught them moral values, the value of life. Most important of all, God has taken out of schools leaving students having no fear for God that is the beginning of developing moral values.


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redishblue (43 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 43m ago
Goose67 (2 friends, send message) wrote: 7m ago
For any of those who consider this a single act of violence... what planet did you fly in from ? There have been over 300 murders year to date in Chicaga, down from 338 for same time last year... so , is that good news? The murders are trending downward, but probably because a few more of the thugs were among the dead. This is an issue for all people, regardless of ethnicity...
=====================================
Why does the US have the highest murder rate of any industrialized nation? And why didn't Bush, McCain, or Obama give any priority whatsoever to the violent and destructive subculture existing in our inner cities?


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fattony (177 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 46m ago
These guys must feel empowered...I mean after all, the b@stard in chief has set precident


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fattony (177 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 47m ago
This just in....fathers day has been cancelled in Chicago due to mass confusion.
In a related story, hallmark has pulled its ENTIRE line of fathers day cards from this city citing negative sales .....


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Goose67 (2 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 53m ago
For any of those who consider this a single act of violence... what planet did you fly in from ? There have been over 300 murders year to date in Chicaga, down from 338 for same time last year... so , is that good news? The murders are trending downward, but probably because a few more of the thugs were among the dead. This is an issue for all people, regardless of ethnicity...


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redishblue (43 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 59m ago
Dog (242 friends, send message) wrote: 2m ago
This story is going to be pulled off the pages of USA Today soon...it is too bad for OWEBambi's Olympic bid meeting on Friday. The call has been made to the editor ....
===================
Seems like hosting the Olympics is more than Obama's bid... many would like to see the Olympics in the USA...

... maybe countries would boycott the olympics, though, bc we torture-- e.g,. human rights violations...





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