End to violence discussed

Religion, family called the keys

By JON HAND, Staff writer
When Alia Henton's brother, Ralik, was shot and killed in the crossfire of a rival gang shootout while
returning from Bible class three years ago, she became angry, and she decided to get involved. Getting
involved meant fighting; not fighting those who killed her brother or others like them, but fighting violence
itself.
Last night she and nearly 200 Rochester area residents and city leaders met to discuss the impact violence
has on their homes, schools and neighborhoods. And they wanted to know how crime will be handled in the
future.
A diverse group of representatives from the city, suburbs, schools, African-American groups, youth groups,
and others met for a WXXI-TV (Channel 21) live telecast to offer their views on violence.
And they asked the city's leaders what was being done to protect them and their children.
"I think that basically all the major institutions in our community have broken down," said Henton, director
of the Sibling Support Group for the families of victims of violent crime. "I think the churches need to take a
prominent role, and the leaders need to step out from behind the pulpit" and become more involved in the
community.
Christopher Brown, 13, a city-school student, said teens need to take responsibility for themselves and stop
relying on political and police officials. He said religion is the key.
"The mayor and all the leaders are doing all they can, but I think it's up to every kid to pray to God as hard
as they can, because (for) every kid that gets killed (there) is a parent who is weeping," Brown said.
A few at the meeting felt city officials are not doing enough.
The first panel of speakers included Mayor William A. Johnson Jr.; Police Chief Robert Warshaw; County
Executive John D. Doyle; Mike Zuber, director of the Rochester Monroe County Youth Bureau; and Audrey
Smith, founder of the Family and Friends of Murdered Children and Victims of Violence.
The speakers defended the city, claiming that programs like the Repeat Offender Program are instrumental
in getting criminals off the streets.
Johnson said more police officers on the street is not the answer to violence, He cited the high number of
recent murders in the city.
"I don't care how many police officers are on the street; those murders wouldn't have been prevented,"
Johnson said. "The problem is we've got too many guns on the street and too many people trying to justify
having guns."

Warshaw agreed: "We don't need more officers, we need less criminals."
Johnson said the end to violence comes from a stronger family unit and more spirituality. He summed up the
consensus of the assembly that the end to violence begins with the support of a family and a strong
community.
The mayor called on the families of criminals not to hide their relatives but to turn them in.
"We need to reinforce the moral standard we expect in society," Johnson said. "The churches, schools . . .
should complement the family, not be a substitute of it."