[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 96 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         INTRODUCTION OF NATIONAL GANG VIOLENCE PREVENTION WEEK

                                 ______


                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 1994

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in Chicago on December 7, 
1983, 17-year-old Ginneria Major was murdered when she was caught in 
the crossfire between two brothers fighting over 85 cents. Since then, 
her mother, Betty Major-Rose, has founded ``Parents Against Gangs'' and 
has led a unrelenting war against this growing phenomenon of youth 
gangs that plagues our country and our young people. Other parents have 
followed her example and have started Parents Against Gangs chapters 
across the country. Mrs. Major-Rose has targeted gangs because the 
twisted, violent mentality that leads a teenage boy to spray a carload 
of family and friends with bullets is nurtured in gangs. The city of 
Chicago and our Nation owes her a great deal of thanks for her work and 
inspiration.
  In Chicago, gang related homicides rose from 38 in 1980 to 101 in 
1990. These startling statistics are similar in cities and towns 
throughout the Nation. Sadly, gangs are everywhere and gang recruitment 
knows no boundaries. A young person's race, sex, or ethnic background 
does not hamper their eligibility to join a gang. It does not matter if 
a child lives in a structured or broken home, or if she or he is rich 
or poor. All young people are at risk of falling prey to gang activity.
  Clearly, gang activity is a national problem of drastic proportion 
and gang prevention strategies are greatly needed. Parents Against 
Gangs is devoted to combating gang problems by working with parents, 
churches, schools, neighborhood organizations, and the police. While 
the group sponsors school programs and support group meetings 
throughout the year, it has also sponsored ``Gang Awareness Week'' for 
the past 3 years.
  Congressional interest in the problem of gangs is high but has lacked 
a unified national plan or policy. Today, I am introducing a bill to 
designate the week of September 12, 1994 as ``National Gang Violence 
Prevention Week.'' During this commemorative week, we can focus on 
prevention initiatives that divert youth away from joining gangs and 
encourage participation in positive activities at school and within 
communities.
  It is my hope that this commemorative will help bring communities and 
parents together to support our Nation's young people and help them to 
succeed in their lives and in school. We cannot afford to let America's 
children linger in the streets looking for something to do because if 
we do, trouble surely will find them and this would be a tragedy. I 
urge my colleagues to support this effort and cosponsor ``National Gang 
Violence Prevention Week.''

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