COMMUNITY LEADERS RALLY TO CURB VIOLENCE ON YOUNG

Mayor Willie Herenton and Police Director Walter Crews will announce
strategies next week "that hopefully will bring a greater consciousness and
deter future violence against our young ones," Herenton said Thursday.

Also, the Hooks political family responded to Wednesday's Rosamond Avenue
shootings with plans for a community forum and a call for action to stop
the violence.

Herenton and Crews will speak at 2 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

"I am alarmed at the violence affecting the children in our city," said
Herenton. "All across this nation, children are becoming the victims of
senseless violence. Living without violence is a basic human right that
should exist for every child."

County Commissioner Michael Hooks, City Council member Janet Hooks and city
school board president Michael Hooks Jr. want local law enforcement,
political bodies, community action and neighborhood groups to work together
to curb the violence.

The three have scheduled a press conference at 10 a.m. today at Hooks &
Associates, 993 S. Cooper, to start public dialog.

Their community forum is set for Greater Middle Baptist Church at 10:30
a.m. June 22.

Their actions come a day after a 3-year-old girl was killed, a 4-year-old
boy was wounded and four other children no older than 14, as well as three
adults, were injured in a drug-related shooting on Rosamond.

"Let's stop talking about it and do something about it," said Michael Hooks Jr.

His father, Michael Hooks, also said the plan will include putting together
committees to research what other big cities are doing to curb violence.
And he wants to talk about stiffer penalties for gun-related crime and
manslaughter.

"We have got to be more aware of what goes on in our communities and be
responsible for what goes on in our communities," Michael Hooks said.

Wednesday's shooting came on the heels of others where children were caught
by stray bullets.

A 10-year-old was critically injured in a drive-by shooting in South
Memphis on June 1.

On May 26, a 9-year-old was killed in Orange Mound in a gang-related shooting.

On April 14, a 10-year-old was killed on a playground in South Memphis
apartment complex.