Rev. Jackson To President: Hold National Summit On Gun Violence, In Chicago
(CBS) – The Rev. Jesse Jackson has made an extraordinary plea: He's calling on President Obama to convene a national conference on gun violence in Chicago.
His supporters say a state of emergency exists on our streets, CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports.
Hyde Park resident Jim Bloom's wakeup call came in July, with gun violence outside his home near 52nd and Drexel.
"There was a shooting right outside my house, right outside my 19-month-old daughter's window. I never thought it would happen here. We've got to do something as a nation to make our neighborhoods safe."
He took part Monday in a Rainbow-PUSH meeting of pastors, elected officials and residents who are demanding a national conference on gun violence. They want President Obama to lead it.
"When the federal government steps in, they bring resources, they bring solutions, they bring answers," said St. Sabina Pastor Michael Pfleger. "Well, we have a hurricane of violence and war going on in our communities, and we're drowning."
They called, too, for stiffer gun laws, as did an angry president after last week's Oregon massacre.
But group members couldn't say how a conference could help pass gun restrictions the president supports but Republicans don't.
Rev. Jackson also is calling for an end to the community's "code of silence." Residents are sometimes reluctant to talk with police because they are afraid, he says.
First, Jim Bloom says, Chicago's political leaders need to swallow their pride and admit there's a crisis.
"They need to say, 'We need help.'"