January 9 Strike Against Crime
Date: Fri, Jan. 02, 2009
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.
