At 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24, about 200 people will gather at St. Peter's Church, 621 W. Belmont Ave., for an assembly and community walk to urge local police commanders and their officers to be supportive and professional when interacting with Lake View's homeless and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth. The event is sponsored by the Lakeview
Action Coalition.
Commanders Gary Yamashiroya (23rd District) and George Rosbroch (19th District) have been invited to the event, along with local public officials. Following the assembly, participants will walk through both police districts to build community awareness and support for these vulnerable youth.
"Homelessness for young people is nothing short of a travesty — especially when that homelessness is the result of rejection or bigotry, as it so often is in our neighborhood. The travesty is multiplied many times over when police, housing options, and social service fall short of what they ought to be, or, in some case make things worse," says Pastor Gregory Dell, of Broadway United Methodist Church. "It's time for all of us — youth, police, concerned residents — to come together and insist that the travesty end."
"The homeless youth in our community need to be assured that they have the support and concern of all of the constituents in the community; they need to be assured that they can trust us, as adults, to provide the safety and security that they need in a time of difficulty for them," says Peggy Cleveland, a member of St. Peter's Episcopalian Church and chair of their Social Outreach Committee.
"We need public awareness and greater concern in order to hold our police offices accountable for treating homeless and LGBT youth with respect," says Aaron Bowen, a homeless youth.
The Lakeview Action Coalition (LAC), based at 3225 N. Sheffield Ave., is a multi-issue community organization whose 35 member institutions in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and North Center work together to develop leaders, foster diversity, and act together for justice. For more information, call (773) 549-1947, ext. 385, or visit www.lakeviewaction.org. |
