Home from war, vets keep peace in Chicago streets
final call
Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are returning home from one combat zone to fight a different battle. This time, they are manning city streets to fight against youth violence.
This school year alone saw 15 Chicago Public School students killed by gun and gang violence and another 73 injured by gunfire. The videotaped beating death of 16-year-old Fenger High School honor student Derrion Albert illustrated the growing problem of youth violence.
A local veterans’ group wanted to do its part to curb the violence. Leave No Veteran Behind, an education advocacy group, has partnered with public schools to provide safe passage to students. Veterans patrol certain street corners to mitigate altercations that might escalate into violence when students are dismissed from school.
“What we try to do is provide an adult presence in that community so children as they walk from school feel comfortable,” said Eli Williamson, 29, co-founder of the group, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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