Crime is standing between so many Americans and their American Dream. Cities are failing to promote safety, leaving us with a culture of fear and distrust which prevents community ties. While we’re working to change that, it’s still a major problem in cities around the country – and it’s hitting minorities the hardest.
Our America’s Gabriel Nadales is sharing this message, most recently in an article for The Hill. In that piece, he wrote that it is a “tragedy that America’s minority communities, many of whom already face significant barriers to financial success, suffer the most from out-of-control crime. African Americans, for example, make up a mere 14.2% of the total population. Yet according to FBI data, they accounted for 58% of homicide victims in 2021 — up from less than 50% in 2011. Blacks also comprise nearly one-third of victims of all violent crimes.”
In his article, and with Our America, Nadales is not just talking about problems but advocating for solutions. These are solutions most Americans can agree – regardless of race. By fully funding, better recruiting and training our police officers, strengthening penalties for repeat and violent offenders and embracing community policing, we can make our communities safer and stronger.
The broad support for these solutions should be a wake-up call for politicians, especially those leading big cities that have been soft on crime. Recent elections have shown that being soft on crime not only hurts cities but also the careers of those who push those policies. Chicago’s former mayor, Lori Lightfoot, recently lost her bid for reelection, making her the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose a re-election campaign. Similarly, many saw the ousting of former San Francisco Attorney General Chesa Boudin as a sign the people, including many left-leaning voters, were fed up with ‘pie-in-the-sky’ policies that drove up crime.
It’s no coincidence these are cities that see incredible amounts of crime. As Nadales wrote, “Every public official is responsible for safeguarding the well-being of every American, ensuring each individual an equal opportunity to succeed. Instead of fulfilling this duty, many politicians choose to sit on the sidelines or make the problem even worse.”
Each of us can make a difference. By supporting safety in our communities, we can make the future better for everyone. Let’s put safety first so every American can achieve his or her dream.
