[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 26 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      IN TRIBUTE TO TSHOMBI WRIGHT

                                 ______


                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 1994

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a high school student 
in my hometown of Milwaukee who can teach us a thing or two about what 
it takes to fight crime.
  Tshombi Wright is a 15-year-old high school freshman, but he has a 
maturity well beyond his years. He watches the devastating impact gangs 
and drug dealers are having in his neighborhood, and recognizes the 
need to provide children with positive influences to counteract the 
temptations the street has to offer.
  Spurred on by that knowledge, he is doing all he can to serve as a 
walking, talking deterrent. He started by signing up as a coach with 
the local police athletic league. Then he joined the District 2 Police 
Explorer Program, and became a community services aide at post 882. In 
that role, Tshombi has volunteered hundreds of hours to perform for 
elementary school students as McGruff the Crime Dog, assist police 
officers at a host of gun safety and antigang and graffiti programs, 
and speak at community block watch meetings to answer parents' 
questions about keeping their kids away from drugs and gangs.
  For his dedication, Tshombi was recently honored by the Milwaukee 
police as the city's Outstanding Youth Involved in Crime Prevention, 
Kathy Schult, a crime prevention officer in district 2 who nominated 
Tshombi for the award, said he has made an invaluable contribution to 
the community as a role model for his peers. ``His example has helped 
kids realize how important it is to set goals and reap the benefits of 
their accomplishments,'' she said.
  Tragically, there are some in Tshombi's neighborhood who do not 
appreciate his efforts. After an article featuring Tshombi appeared 
prominently in a local newspaper, he was the target of numerous threats 
to his safety. On the day after the article ran, in fact, Tshombi was 
accosted by four boys in his backyard, where one of them put a gun to 
his head.
  That kind of senseless act reminds us of how deeply rooted the crime 
problem is today, and how difficult the challenge is to defuse the 
epidemic of violence haunting our inner cities. We can take hope, 
though, in the commitment of people like Tshombi. Despite the threats 
he has received, this kind-hearted freshman refuses to let go of his 
dream to one day become Milwaukee's chief of police, or to drop his 
community service work today. ``You can't give up or give in to these 
kinds of people,'' he said. ``I can't let them break me.''
  Mr. Speaker, this kind of resolve and sense of purpose deserves this 
body's praise and thanks. At a time when the media gives as a birds-eye 
view at one killing spree after another, we need to be reminded that 
there are encouraging and heart-warming stories like Tshombi's out 
there, and courageous people like him who are willing to stand up for 
what is right. We also need to know that the dedication and 
unselfishness of individuals like Tshombi will, in the end, be the most 
effective instrument we can employ to free our communities from the 
chokehold of violence.

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