We all know that Chicago has become a talking point for politicians on both sides of the aisle. Somehow, the gun violence in Chicago supersedes addressing the gun violence happening everywhere. Therefore, the suggestion that the U.N. come into the city to help end gun violence isn't a new notion. However, the idea that the U.N. should send troops in is a different approach.
Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin describes the gun violence in Chicago as a "quiet genocide." According to CBS Chicago, Boykin is traveling to New York to meet with Oscar Fernandez-Taranco of Argentina, the U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Support, to seek international help with “horrific levels of shootings” and other violent crime in the West Side and South Side communities.
“I’m hoping to appeal to the U.N. to actually come to Chicago and meet with victims of violence, and maybe even possibly help out in terms of peacekeeping efforts, because I think it’s so critical for us to make sure that these neighborhoods are safe,” Boykin said at O’Hare International Airport on Thursday.
“There is a quiet genocide taking place in too many of our communities," he continues. "Eighty percent of those who are being killed by gun violence are African American, and often killed at the hands of another African American."
“So we must protect these population groups, and that’s what the United Nations does. They’re a peacekeeping force. They know all about keeping the peace, and so we’re hopeful that they’ll hear our appeal.”
Some people wondered why he would call on the U.N. rather than the National Guard. To that issue, Boykin believes it's a training issue.
“They’ve been able to help in places like Africa and abroad, where they’ve sent troops in and sent forces in to help protect minority and vulnerable populations, and so quite frankly I think the same can be said for here in Chicago,” Boykin said. “I’m talking about physical security. I’m also talking about maybe suggestions for what we can do in Chicago to help protect our minority populations. We’re being, again, decimated by the violence that we see here in Chicago. I mean this is really a genocide, and we have to do something to stop it.”
There has been mixed reviews from Chicagoans about his choice to take this route. Whether it's doing too much, or simply won't happen has yet to be seen. However, according to Fox 32, top United Nations officials will be coming to Chicago to address violence in the city. From there, we will have to see how this develops.
