[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 110 (Wednesday, August 10, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                      STANDING UP TO GANG VIOLENCE

                                 ______


                            HON. JIM COOPER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 10, 1994

  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, today, all of us--parents, community 
leaders, concerned citizens--are in a critical struggle.
  We are in a struggle we must win. A struggle for the lives of our 
very own children.
  Tennessee communities like Mamphis are being invaded by outside 
forces--by teen gangs from Los Angeles and from Chicago. These gangs 
want to pull our children away. They want to pull our children away 
from our homes, away from our families, away from the safety we want to 
provide all children.
  Today, Memphis has taken an important step to protect our children 
from this tragedy.
  Sara Lewis and everyone involved in this historic Memphis and Shelby 
County Communitywide Conference on Youth Gangs have sent a clear 
message: Memphis and Shelby County citizens are going to stand up to 
gang violence.
  I have supported legislation that would help by making gang violence 
a Federal crime. This measure, like the conference today, is a first 
step. And, like this conference, it sends a strong message: Tennesseans 
will unite to fight for the safety of our children.
  I congratulate all participants in the Memphis and Shelby County 
Communitywide Conference on Youth Gangs on their leadership in solving 
this problem and I join them in the fight. All Tennesseeans, all 
Americans, must follow their lead. We must continue to stand up for our 
children by standing up to gang violence.

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