Under the radar: The 2020 US homicide explosion
Ramin Mazaheri
Press TV, Chicago
Here's a roundup of headlines from the past week in the United States: In Los Angeles murders in 2020 are the highest in a decade; In Atlanta murders are the highest in 30 years; Chicago just reported homicides are up 54% this year and 73% month-over-month from November 2019, showing that neither cold weather nor the second wave of coronavirus is stopping the absolutely devastating record homicide wave.
The murders are almost totally confined to the poorest ghettos - mainly populated by African and Latino-American citizens- and are mostly in urban areas, which usually have Democrat mayors.
Many believe the most basic function of any type of government is to provide physical security. Many also say that the tolerance of gang wars, shootouts with no consequences and an underclass which essentially suffers from de facto segregation is a reflection of America’s endlessly violent national history and foreign policy.
Nationwide, aggravated assaults have skyrocketed about a third as high as homicides. Total crime numbers - including robbery, sex assault, theft, burglary and murder - are down just 7% in places like Chicago in 2020, providing scant compensation for such widespread loss of life and increased feelings of insecurity.
Many nations have kept their schools open despite coronavirus, but across the US schools have mostly been shuttered, causing a rise in juvenile violence. About 350 children have been shot so far this year in Chicago alone.
Because of the coronavirus and the highly-disputed election, the record levels of murder have flown under the radar of the national media, but they certainly have devastated poor urban communities and will require years of healing, reconciliation and investment.
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