Adams holds
??.v * | \
WfL
forum on
gun violence
Residents listen intensely during the Safer 12th Community Forum held at the
Winston Lake Family YMCA on Thursday, July 21. The event was hosted by
Rep. Alma Adams, and was designed to bring stakeholders together to discuss
the increase in violent crimes.
Photo* by Tevin Stinsoi
The Safer 12th Community Forum hosted by Rep. Alma Adams brought together
various stakeholders in the community to discuss the recent increase in violent
crimes. The panel which featured city officials, local faith leaders, and commu
nity activists was held at the Winston Lake Family YMCA on Thursday, July 21.
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
L a s t w e e k
Congresswoman Alma
Adams sat down with city
officials, local faith lead
ers, and members of the
community to discuss the
recent rise in gun violence
in the city and across the
nation.
Adams, the
Representative for District
12 which currently
includes parts of Guilford
and Forsyth Counties, said
she felt it is important to
hold an open conversation
with the stakeholders in the
community to discuss the
issue. She mentioned the
recent rise in gun violence
in Winston-Salem is a
reflection of what has
become a problem for
cities across the nation.
"The issues we are fac
ing in Winston-Salem and
Forsyth County mirror a
number of the issues we
are facing in communities
across the country," said
Adams. "Our country has
failed to pass sensible gun
safety reform measures
and gun violence is ripping
our neighborhoods."
In just seven months,
the city has already seen 15
homicides, double the
amount for all of 2015.
According to the Winston
Salem Police Department,
there has also been an
increase in aggravated
assaults, which refers to
incidents where a weapon
was used but the victim
survived, and drive by
shootings.
At the national level,
major cities have seen 114
more murders than last
year, as well as increases in
rapes and robberies. Last
month, Adams was one of
130 Democratic lawmak
ers who participated in a
sit-in on the House floor in
protest of Republicans'
unwillingness to vote on a
bill that would expand
background checks and
ban gun sales to those on
the "no-fly" watch list.
"We have to get past
being silent about this
issue and begin to have
conversations. That's the
reason we are here today,"
she continued. "We are
well overdue for a conver
sation that will bring all
sides together."
During the Safer 12th
Community Forum held at
the Winston Lake Family
YMCA, more than 100
community members lis
tened intensely as council
member Derwin
Montgomery, Chief Barry
Rountree, Rev. Alvin
Carlisle and Brother
Effrainguae Muhammad
conversed about different
initiatives they have helped
establish to combat the
recent rise in violent
crimes and improve the
relationship between the
community and law
enforcement.
Chief Barry Rountree
discussed the efforts of the
WSPD. He noted the con
struction of three police
substations and the
Winston-Salem Police
Foundation are just some
of the ways they are look
ing to improve the relation
ship between police and
citizens.
"Those substations are
going to allow us to be
more involved in the com
munity," he said. "It is
important to this depart
ment that we have a work
ing relationship with the
people we serve."
Representative for the
East Ward Derwin
Montgomery talked about
the city's efforts. He men
tioned City Council's deci
sion to provide additional
funds for S.O.A.R
(Successful Outcomes
After Release), a program
designed that provides job
training for those recently
'released from prison, and
the Winston-Salem Urban
League's summer employ
ment program.
Montgomery noted,
"When discussing the vio
lence that we see in
Winston-Salem and other
cities across America, we
must also address the
social economic issues that
undergird the violence."
"It's very simple," he
continued. "We cannot
separate the social eco
nomic issues that are
aligned with the violence.
The policies that the City
Council works for will
continue to address these
issues."
Third vice president of
the Ministers' Conference
of Winston-Salem and
Vicinity Rev. Alvin
Carlisle discussed the faith
community's efforts to
build a better community.
Carlisle said the
Conferences' initiatives
attack the issue by focus
ing on decreasing poverty
and making education
more accessible for those
who come from low
income households.
He said, "It is the mis
sion of the Conference to
cultivate mindsets that will
cause people to realize that
all lives have value, and all
lives are important."
Community activist
Brother Effrainguae
Muhammad wrapped up
the panel discussion by
discussing the importance
of community policing. He
also urged community
members to do what they
can to reduce crime.
"We can't expect law
enforcement to fix this
problem alone. We have to
do our part as well."
Muhammad said local
members of the Nation of
Islam have established the
Squash the Beef Hotline
that will set up conflict res
olution centers that will
end senseless disagree
ments that lead to shooting
deaths.
"This is a preventable
measure we are doing." he
said. "Many of those who
have lost their lives have
been because of ego."
Following a brief Q
and A session with resi
dents. Rep. Adams thanked
the panelists for their par
ticipation and urged them
to continue to fight gun
violence in the community.
'This is something I
am very adamant about."
she said. "As you continue
to fight here locally, I will
continue to fight in
Congress."