Chicago, IL

During the 2008-2009 school year, 42 public school students were shot and killed. So far this year, at least 12 students have been shot and killed. These numbers might not mean much, but the stories will. There are so many devastating stories coming out of Chicago that it's impossible to do every victim justice. Individually, they are heartbreaking; collectively, they are deeply disturbing. We are working in Chicago to raise awareness of these stories - not just the way that local and national news reports on them, but to hear from people in this city who have to live with violence everyday.

Videos

Taylor Holt felt the effects of gun violence when her cousin, Blair Holt, was shot and killed on a Chicago public bus in 2007. Follow Taylor as she speaks with families, friends and leaders about how they are dealing with Chicago’s gun violence epidemic.

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Upside Down Flag
DCTV
Chicago, IL

Camiella Williams, a powerful anti-gun violence advocate in Chicago, talks about what the upside down flag represents to her.
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Annette's Story
DCTV
Chicago, IL

Taylor interviews her aunt to talk about how her cousin Blair was killed, and how it feels to lose a child to gun violence.
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Blair's Bedroom
DCTV
Chicago, IL

Honor student Blair Holt, 16 years old, was killed while riding on a public bus on his way to visit his grandparents. Blair, an innocent bystander who shielded his friend from the gunfire, was the...
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Burying Your Friends
DCTV
Chicago, IL

Taylor interviews a group of young people at St. Sabina’s Church about how gun violence has affected them. The overwhelming prevalence of gun violence in their lives and the numerous losses they...
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I Never Would Have Let Him Go
DCTV
Chicago, IL

Gun violence robbed Dominique Mayo of the chance to see her son graduate 8th grade. Sameere Conn, age 13, was fatally shot when he stopped at the corner store near his house to buy a snack after...
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It Can Happen to Anyone
DCTV
Chicago, IL

Taylor Holt interviews three grieving mothers who have lost their sons to senseless gun violence. All three young boys were innocently going about their days when they were shot and killed - one...
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St. Sabina’s Church
DCTV
Chicago, IL

Taylor interviews Reverend Michael Pfleger, the Pastor of The Faith Community of Saint Sabina, who is also a passionate social activist. He is a prominent advocate in the anti-gun violence...
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CeaseFire Chicago
DCTV
Chicago, IL

Taylor interviews Ameena Matthews and Ricardo Williams of CeaseFire Chicago, an important gun violence prevention and intervention organization replicated in other cities nationwide. CeaseFire...

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Chicago, IL Updates

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...
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Pass Blair's Bill | Chicago, IL
Representative Bobby Rush, of Illinois, has introduced a new firearm bill to the House. It's entitled H.R.45: Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2010. But don't google it. If you do, you'll have to parse through a series of warnings and tirades comparing the bill to something...
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It Only Gets Harder | Chicago, IL
Our youth reporter, Taylor Holt, felt the effects of gun violence on her family when her 16-year-old cousin, Blair Holt, was shot and killed in crossfire while riding on a public bus after school. Although she had watched her family grieve the loss of this talented honor student, she hadn’t felt...
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