LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nearly 300 people packed the King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church Monday evening to talk about violence in Louisville and what can be done to combat it.
The conversation inside the stifling sanctuary was just as heated as the 95-degree temperatures outside.
Last Wednesday, it wasn't just a shooting that took the life of a young mother, Redaja Williams, who was walking her daughter to a bus stop that morning. That night, another young mother, Jermia Offutt—who was pregnant—was also shot and killed.
Louisville Metro Police have reported violent crime numbers are trending down, but that's not much comfort to families who are now left grieving.
Community members are now taking it upon themselves to do something, and are coming together in an effort to stop another senseless killing.
Metro Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, D-1, organized Monday's meeting and took extensive notes as more than three dozen residents shared ideas on reducing violence in the city.
“I don’t have all the answers. My colleagues don’t have all the answers. But there were so many solutions shared today,” Hawkins said after the gathering.
Attendees offered a wide range of suggestions. Demetrius McDowell, founder of Bosses Not Bangers, called for outreach programs in prisons to help influence younger community members.
“When we come out, we have a mentality to do right,” McDowell said. “These are the same ones who still have influence in their community that the younger ones look up to.”
An unnamed Jefferson County Public Schools employee urged parents and community members to become more involved in schools.
“We have parent-teacher conferences, open houses. ... If you don’t show up, you’re missing a chance to impact these kids,” she said.
LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey was also at the meeting.
“We need people to intervene before it ever happens. I’m glad to take killers off the street all day long, but if we never have to take another one off the street, that’s the goal,” Humphrey said. “Kids might be the answer, but the solution is the community.”
Four more community meetings are planned throughout the fall to continue these discussions.
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