Gun Violence in Chicago Calls for Drastic Measures | Chicago, IL

Last year, Christina Waters was a happy 18-year-old girl ready to make the big move from Chicago to attend college in Virginia. On a summer afternoon on July 25, 2009, Christina attended a church picnic where shots rang out from unidentified gunmen and a stray bullet struck the teen in the left side of her head. Fortunately, the bullet missed her brain. Christina was hospitalized for nearly a month and then had three more months of physical rehabilitation and speech therapy. The bullet is still lodged in her skull and she lost the hearing in her left ear. Christina’s face is scarred and she can’t smile because of the paralysis. “But I’m learning to forgive,” Christina said in a recent interview at her home. “I told myself, No more tears. There is so much positive that has happened. I can still do everything like a normal teenager. I have no restrictions.”

 “From that bloodstained patch of gravel, though, her struggle to survive would reach a prominent Chicago church, the top echelon of Chicago’s business community and even the Obama administration.” Christina is just one of many innocent teens who were killed or seriously injured this past year as gun, gang, and youth violence run rampant in Chicago.

Rev. Michael Pfleger, the pastor of St. Sabina’s Church in inner city Chicago, has been a prominent figure in the fight against gun violence over the past decade. Rev. Pfleger refused to sit idly by as more innocent teens have their lives abruptly taken from them, even if that means appealing to human greed. In November of 2009, Father Pfleger on behalf of his church rented 20 billboards throughout the South Side of Chicago offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone who shot or killed a child. “I agree, the bounty idea is harsh,” he said. “Standing over the casket of a child is pretty harsh, too.” The initiative brought in 15 tips, which are currently being investigated by police.

The biggest financial supporter of the reward fund is John W. Rogers Jr., the founder of Ariel Investments and a former captain of the Princeton University basketball team. Mr. Rogers was personally invested in bringing justice to Christina for this horrifying random act of violence. Four years ago, Mr. Rogers shot baskets with Christina when she was an eighth grader at Ariel Community Academy, which is the small public magnet school he founded and sponsors. Mr. Rogers visited Christina in the hospital, accompanied by his childhood friend Arne Duncan, the secretary of education and a former Chicago Public Schools superintendent.

From Christina’s tragedy emerged a glimmer of hope – her attack, her struggle to survive, and her optimism brought together influential figures to work towards effective solutions to prevent gun violence.

Read the full article from the New York Times here.