When the Story Write Itself
- Vonzell Banks was about to start a summer job next week before finishing his last year at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy.
The 17-year-old was playing basketball with his cousin in Bronzeville when a gunman fired several times about 4:45 p.m. Friday, then jumped into a white SUV and sped away, according to police and witnesses.
Banks was hit in the back and died half an hour later at Stroger Hospital of Cook County. His 19-year-old cousin was wounded in the foot.
The shooting happened at a park named for Hadiya Pendleton, a King College Prep High School student who was fatally shot in 2013 in another park about a mile from President Barack Obama's Chicago home. Her death helped cast a national spotlight on the city's violence.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but renaming a park in the middle of a giant gang war, isn't really going to do anything to stop the gangs warring over turf.
Sure, it felt good at the time and you even got the First Lady to come in and give a speech that made everyone feel really really good (even though Michelle is in no way similar to Ms. Pendleton, growing up in a connected family that never knew hardship), but what did it really accomplish? You just renamed a piece of territory that the kids still can't use and the gangs use a landmark in the never ending battle for dope territory.
Unfortunately, the only lasting memorial created was the opportunity for another funeral by failing to address the reality that exists across the south and west sides.
Sure, it felt good at the time and you even got the First Lady to come in and give a speech that made everyone feel really really good (even though Michelle is in no way similar to Ms. Pendleton, growing up in a connected family that never knew hardship), but what did it really accomplish? You just renamed a piece of territory that the kids still can't use and the gangs use a landmark in the never ending battle for dope territory.
Unfortunately, the only lasting memorial created was the opportunity for another funeral by failing to address the reality that exists across the south and west sides.
Labels: crime
posted by SCC at 12:21 AM
19 Comments:
Well said !
I hear "Hadiya Pendleton" coming out of my AM news radio one more time...
Wasn't she passing a blunt in the park with some bangers when a rival crept up and let go on the group, catching her (of course) in the head -- at which point nearly every one of her "friends" ran like hell?
Don't name parks after people before you've seen the tox screen...
Hello?
Hello?
Are they now going to rename the park after Vonzell Banks (RIP)?
This is also the park that in 2011... http://abc7chicago.com/archive/8288382/
"Police say Darius Brown was playing basketball at Metcalfe Park Wednesday night near 43rd and State streets when someone in a passing car opened fire. He was taken to Comer Children's Hospital in Hyde Park, where he died. Police do not think Brown was the intended target. They do have a suspect or a motive in the case. "
Look up that school's avg GPA... it's lower than a crack head on heroin. Re-naming the school Dumbar, would be a compliment.
Have another anti-violence parade.
Well said. No one wants to address the root issues.
"...failing to address the reality that exists across the south and west sides."
This absolutely says it all.
#BlackLivesMatter
(But only if you come from wealth and are a campaign donor)
#PayToPlay Chiraq
"... Her death helped cast a national spotlight on the city's violence....:
and what good did the national spotlight do other than create an opportunity for Hollywood Rahm and friends to make more money using the violence tool. Making Spike Lee famous for Chiraq comedy film.
Call it what it is. The violence helps Ali Baba and his 50 theive's make money. It has nothing whatsoever to do about shining some national spotlight on anything for moral values that will enhance society as a whole.
In motion picture theaters near you soon.
We laugh...We cried...Some Folks/Peoples died.
The Mylar balloon factories are doing well in China thanks to Chicago's non stop killings. Looking at the death statistics one would think we were a small volatile country, looking at the names you'd believe it. The media has to call out this Fr. Phfaker along with JJ Sr....they are doing nothing to stop the shootings. Nothing but talk and the talk is that the police are doing the killing of young black men. There was a shooting a couple weeks ago across the street from St Sabina, and the killing of one of his top aides, but so far the media forgotten to ask Fr. Phfaker or Sr.Jessie how those peace marches were going or the effectiveness. For some unknown reason, the media doesn't want Rahm to look as phony, like a Phfaker, Jessie or Obama. Is anyone going to have the FLOTUS come back to the hood to preach about the hardships again?
Rahm is a loser, the crime situation is on him for pandering to a fore mentioned deadbeat trio. its only a matter of time before Chicago gets its day of looting and arson.
"...to address the reality that exists across the south and west sides."
Hey Rahm and City Council: You know the first step in doing that ? HIRE MORE COPS !
I just don't understand any of this.
We are doing foot patrols.
We are wearing our hats and covering our tattoos.
The sergeants are holding outdoor roll-calls.
The price is cheap enough to keep fueling Garry's "Smoke and Mirror Machine".
SO... WHY are there still so many shootings????
This is also the park that in 2011... http://abc7chicago.com/archive/8288382/
"Police say Darius Brown was playing basketball at Metcalfe Park Wednesday night near 43rd and State streets when someone in a passing car opened fire. He was taken to Comer Children's Hospital in Hyde Park, where he died. Police do not think Brown was the intended target. They do have a suspect or a motive in the case. "
Wrong. 2011 shooting was at northwest corner of 43rd and state. This kid got shot at 44th and Calumet. At least 6 blocks east of state st.
I've said it once and I'll say it again, "Its another sublime day in Edison Park...."
Michelle Robinson's father had Multiple Sclerosis. He worked every day for city, even though he could barely walk. If only his son-in-law had his integrity.
This young man's life snuffed out by brainless sadistic Gangsters. In the news today and forgotten by just about everybody but his family tommarow. Goes on every day. What is the answer? Nobody seems to know.
1:19am...u sound like a moron. Even if she was smoking weed, that causes you to imply it was her fault she was shot??? What if one of your "deadhead" friends who do nothing but smoke were shot while playing their guitar in the park....would you feel the same way? GTFOH
"What if one of your "deadhead" friends who do nothing but smoke..."
7/06/2015 08:04:00 AM
You can stop right there.
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