16 BOCNEWS.com SEPTEMBER 2018 Chicago, What is Really Going on! Black Chicagoans are fed up; Black Ministers are fed up. Yet, the violence in Chicago con- tinues and Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel seems not to care. "The violence sadly illustrates that two Chicago’s currently exist," said the Rev. Ira Acree. He has Pastored the Greater St. John Bible Church for more than 25 years, located on Chicago's west- side. Rev. Ira Acree talked to Body of Christ News about the recent violence in Chicago that left 72 people shot and 12 of them dead. This happened when gunshots rang through a crowded street as a feud erupted between con- flicting gangs. "On the same weekend people were enjoying outdoor meals, museums, sports, seeing shows and attending the Lollapalooza (music fes- tival). So many other people in our neighborhoods were desperate, were being shot down, undergoing surgery, sitting in hospitals rooms and trauma cen- ters and even others were making funeral arrange- ments. The Chicago Police Department's homicide clear- ance rate is only 17%, compared to the rest of the nation that is around 60-65%, according to Rev. Acree. That means only 17% of the people com- mitting murders are arrested. If 83% of the mur- derers are killing people and getting away with it, then why should people come forward. People are afraid! The witness protection system to move people out of town needs money for that. The system is bro- ken by 17%. Chicago Political leadership must do something other than make condescending speech- es, that our Mayor gave playing the dog whistle political game with the people on the north side, the more Aristocratic and upper-class neighborhoods. Chicago's political leadership must address the poverty that fuels the frustration, anger, illiteracy, and self-hate which leads to the epidemic of vio- lence. "They have not done that, they have ignored the plight of the people; they have showed more interest investing in downtown and the Northside, while continuing to disinvest in the south and west- side areas of the town. We need some economic investment on the south and westside. They can help build up some of these black businesses because you are going to pay one way or another, by way of crime, police law suits, or pay through incarceration. I think it's best to invest at the front end. Rahm Emanuel’s administration closed many of the mental health clinics and 50 schools at one time in the black and brown neighborhoods. That is unprecedented! Whenever you close that many schools in one community you take the spirit away from that community. You also decimate an eco- nomic engine in that community. When a school comes into a neighborhood, you have three to four hundred students and teach- ers going to the community stores, gas stations, restaurants, cleaners and other businesses in the area. You’re not just hurting the teachers and stu- dents, you are hurting the local businesses as well. The Mayor’s office believes that smaller classes are better and when we have smaller classes they close all these school down. They can't have it both ways." Rev. Acree says, “I'm against forms of violence- -urban, domestic and police violence, but until we confront the institutional economic violence com- mitted by city hall and by this Mayor, substantial transformation of any kind will never take place. I know President Obama delivered the black com- munity to Rahm Emanuel the first time, I don't think he will get the Black community next time.” Rev. Ira Agree has his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master of Arts in Christian minis- try from North Park Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry from Midwest Theological Institute. By Randy McCowan COMMUNITY Rev. Ira Acree