Derrion Albert was a 16-year-old honors student walking home from school in Chicago. He was an innocent bystander as he came across two rival groups who were fighting. They pulled him in and beat him to death with pieces of a railroad tie.
Hadiya Pendleton was another honors student in Chicago. She was 15 years old when she sang at President Obama’s second inauguration. One week later, a stray bullet found its way into her back. Despite their best efforts, doctors could not save her.
Ronald Hayes was going to be the first in his family to graduate from high school. He promised to take his mother as his prom date because she never got to attend hers. The 17-year-old was forced to break his promise when he was gunned down while shoveling snow at his neighbor’s house.
Welcome to Chiraq.
That is the new nickname that’s been catching on throughout the city because more people are killed each year on the streets of Chicago than in Iraq. There’s one spot in particular – the corner of MLK Drive and 35th Street – where the violence has been high in the past. But something is changing in Chicago. If you look at the numbers, in certain areas the violence is decreasing. What is happening?
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