Group rallies for public safety, mayor calls for cease-fire

Citizens for a Safer Flint demonstrated at City Hall May 24 calling for increased police protection before the Flint City Council meeting.

Organizer David Davenport said, "Our lives are on the line. We are not going to accept the excuse of 'we are trying to balance the budget,' because at the rate things are going we or our family members might not live to see the budget balanced."

"One life costs too much," said the Rev. Archie Powell. "We're scared to walk down our streets."

Activist Kevin 'Doc' Stange said, "I'm tired of four out of five houses in my neighborhood getting hit by bullets.  I've seen shoot-outs in empty lots. When I called the police they came with their lights off. I gave them a detailed description, names and type of gun. My point is if the mayor or the chief of police isn't going to do anything, citizens have the right to organize a militia," he said.

Stange's wife Annette said seconds after putting her granddaughter to bed a bullet whizzed by her head hitting the wall in her home.

"We can't go to the grocery store without fear," said David Howard referring to the recent parking lot shooting of an innocent bystander at a local supermarket.

A gas station owner said every night someone takes a shot at his establishment. "I called the police and waited two hours. Then they called me back and asked if I still needed help— I said no!"

Another demonstrator recounted a breaking and entering incident. The intruder was interrupted by the homeowner and then fled. Neighbors chased him, caught him and held him captive for 45 minutes before police arrived.

"By everyone's admission our city is shrinking," said another activist. "Why do we still have nine councilmen? Cut two councilmen's jobs and hire another police officer," he said.

Chants of "Call in the National Guard," and "Our lives are more important than the budget" resounded as the group of about 40 people marched into City Hall to attend the council meeting.

"Since the police layoffs innocent people have lost their lives from stray bullets while in their homes minding their own business," Davenport said in a prepared statement to city council. "Summer is on the way and our lives are even more at risk. All we are hearing you say is that a budget is more important than citizens' lives."

But before the group had a chance to present their concerns to city council, Mayor Dayne Walling told the council that a behind-the-scenes coalition will apply for a grant from the Department of Justice. The Drug Market Intervention grant calls for issuing a cease-fire, which the mayor said he was doing in the wake of nine murders, last month and three so far this month.

"We cannot arrest our way out of this crisis," said Walling. "We are moving quickly with training for our officers and Blue Badge training for citizens. This will take a complete community effort. We will work and pray for peace," he said.

Councilwoman Jackie Poplar (2nd Ward) reacting to the mayor's comments said, "Not all the blame for crime is sitting up here (in council chambers). Crime will stop and murder will cease when we change the mindset of our people. Neighbors need to be held accountable. When someone you know is selling drugs you need to report them. It's going to take a community. We're going to have to stop being silent about what we know."

"The fight isn't in city council," said President Delrico Loyd (1st Ward). "The fight is on the street."