Something has to be done about gun violence in South Greenwood, says Robert Beasley of Thompson-Clemons Post 200 of the American Legion.
On Saturday at 6 p.m., the post is hosting the first gathering of what it is calling the Coalition Against Gun Violence in Greenwood.
The town hall meeting will be an open forum to accept ideas, suggestions and solutions to address gun violence in the community.
“We’ve been talking about it at the post for the last five months or so,” Beasley said. “This is not just my idea but all of ours. We have to do something to change this atmosphere of fear and ongoing violence in the neighborhood.”
A social worker by trade, Beasley holds a master’s degree in social work and was part of a community rebuilding and welfare reform program in Wisconsin before he relocated to Greenwood.
He believes strongly that Greenwood is in denial about a gang problem that exists here and draws in disaffected youth who feel they have nowhere else to turn.
“We cannot continue to ignore the fact that gangs are at the middle of the violent activity in this community,” he said.
Because he believes all community stakeholders — elected officials, law enforcement, churches and clergy, teachers, parents and kids — must be involved in any strategic approach to reforming a community, he hopes members from all of those contingent groups will attend on Saturday.
“It is not going to work unless every aspect of the community collaborates to restructure the family sub-system in the black community,” Beasley said.
“In Wisconsin, in neighborhoods that turned around, it took a collaborative effort with law enforcement and the community to identify and address the gang problem instead of turning a blind eye to it.”
Beasley said he believes people here are fearful and have not had as much exposure to gang activity as people from larger cities.
Some signs of gang activity might be in plain sight but not identified as such by members of the community, he said.
Gang activity in a place such as Greenwood, where poverty is rampant, he said, is a way for kids who feel powerless to feel part of something bigger than themselves.
The problem is that once in a gang, it’s nearly impossible to get out, Beasley said.
“That is part of gang culture. Once you join, the only way out is death. It’s a lifetime affiliation. You can’t just say, ‘I’m through; I don’t want to do this anymore.’”
Young people who live in impoverished areas of Greenwood and who have no extracurricular activities to keep them busy outside of school, or older kids with no jobs and no money are particularly vulnerable, Beasley believes.
They need to know that their community is fighting for them, he said.
“They’re going to find what they need somewhere else if they have to.”
Also on hand at Saturday night’s forum will be professors from Mississippi Valley State University’s Department of Criminal Justice to collect anecdotal evidence about the community.
For more information on the town hall meeting, contact Beasley at 299-6798.
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
What: Coalition Against Gun Violence in Greenwood Town Hall Meeting
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: American Legion Thompson-Clemons Post 200, 1103 Jordan St.
