From SILENCE IS VIOLENCE-
One week from today, on January 9, 2009, we will Strike Against
Crime to send a message to the New Orleans city leadership—
and to each other—that we continue to stand in solidarity as a
city, determined to defy the violence that grips our streets and
neighborhoods. The year has not begun well: Three murders
scarred the city during the first 12 hours of 2009, and armed
robberies have been prevalent over the past week.
What would happen if the fear and danger we all live with
were to shut down our participation in the amazing energy
that defines New Orleans? What if every business that
feels threatened by crime were to close, and every
frightened citizen to stay home? These are the
questions that moved us to call for a “Strike” next week.
We are not asking that citizens necessarily stay home
from work—that would be too detrimental to many
families and to the small businesses that fill New
Orleans. But we are asking that you find some way
to express the toll violence takes on your individual
life, the lives of your family and neighbors, and your
jobs and businesses. We have already heard from
many of you who plan to take public, pro-active
actions that speak both to the crushing violence,
and to the under-served community needs that
could challenge this violence.
Beginning this weekend, we will post a list of planned
actions and activities for Friday, January 9 and the
Strike Against Crime. For now, we have two specific
requests for participation:
1. If you are a retail business owner, please join us in
contributing 5% of next Friday’s sales to a public safety
or social justice-oriented non-profit organization.
This amount will mirror your city sales tax contribution
for one day. SilenceIsViolence will provide a list of
suggested non-profit organizations, with brief
descriptions of their missions, to be beneficiaries
of these donations.
2. We have printed yard signs that will serve as crime
self-reporting tools for next week and beyond.
“Crime Happened Here” signs will be available
beginning today at Sound Cafe and through
neighborhood organizations. We ask that people
use them to mark known crime locations before
next Friday’s strike.
If you have an activity or demonstration that you are
planning for next Friday, please let us know what it is
and we will share the information as part of this citywide
event. Some examples include: youth resources tables
in playgrounds around town; a community soccer event
to highlight the need for community activities; a Peace
motorcade through violence-ridden neighborhoods; a
public film screening with an anti-violence message.
Use your imagination and send us your plans.
Wherever you are next Friday, wear something red.
This is how we will signal our pledge to each other to
start the peace within our own families and communities.
This speaks for itself Gentle Readers. I’m a member
of the Irish Channel Republican Army and I will be
wearing red to show solidarity with my brothers and
sisters in the battle for our city and the fight against
unbridled violence.
It’s up to us Darlin’s- Sinn Fein!