Martin Luther King said, “A riot is the language of the unheard,” and that’s the message American leaders didn’t hear decades ago.

On May 29, 2020, thousands of people marched through American streets. The death of George Floyd was the spark for riots across the United States. So how can we prevent anger and riots against the police from happening again and again?

During the Corona Virus pandemic, Americans listened to their leaders and stayed home, wore masks, and socially distanced from family and friends. They felt involved and even admonished each other if their fellow citizens did not wear a mask. Why… because they were “in this together” and everyone wanted to stay safe.

As the country began to open up, the death of George Floyd sent people into the streets to protest the police. They no longer felt “in this together.”

So how do we get people together to help make cities safer for everyone?

Community involvement is the key! When citizens actively work together, they don’t feel powerless because they have a voice.

As a crime and violence prevention specialist for 40 years, I have brought people together and taught residents how to protect their families and take responsibility for neighborhood safety. By empowering citizens, we’ve reduced crime, improved community-police relations, and at the same time reduced fear by bringing neighbors together. The national average is 2.5 police officers for every 1,000 citizens. It is impossible for the police to protect you! Everyone must work together to stay safe.

Over the years, I saw crime getting out of control in some areas and gangs taking over. Today, violence costs taxpayers $229 billion a year. Last week in Chicago, 10 people died and 30 were injured. This can and must stop! If we continue to ignore the socially isolated citizens who allow crime and violence to flourish, we will continue down this self-destructive path to socialism and control over people’s lives. Freedom is an inner journey of the mind, body and spirit. Freedom does NOT come from the government or the police, but from how Americans choose to live their lives.

The vast majority of citizens want to live in peace in their community and keep their children safe, however, city leaders must do a better job of supporting residents with an understanding of how a democratic society and freedom can help us all grow and prosper together. .