Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens, the primary African American elected to the job in Georgia’s third most populous county, stated nearly all of his inmates are Black males between 18 and 25.
“I have a serious issue with that,” Owens stated. “What I would want is to try to catch these young men and women before they come and visit (the jail).”
He and different legislation enforcement leaders centered on police packages aimed toward constructing belief with youngsters, comparable to after-school packages. Austell Police Chief Scott Hamilton stated these are important initiatives, however he stated many youngsters slip by means of the cracks, which might have dire penalties.
His officers responded to a capturing Friday the place an altercation left a 15-year-old and 18-year-old mending gunshot wounds. Owens urged the convention’s youthful attendees to search out peaceable methods to settle disagreements with out reaching for weapons — mirroring pleas made by different metro Atlanta legislation enforcement officers.
“Life is not a video game. There is no reset button,” Owens stated. “Once you pull that trigger, you have ruined two Black lives. You’ve killed one and the other will go to prison for the rest of their life.”
Lots of the audio system stated Atlanta — as a mecca for Black tradition, energy and affect — ought to function a pioneer in fixing a number of the points dealing with the African American neighborhood.
Credit score: Steve Schaefer /
Credit score: Steve Schaefer /
A few of that work is already occurring within the well being care trade, of which Black sufferers face a number of persistent disparities.
Black ladies in Georgia are twice as more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes in comparison with white ladies, in keeping with the state Division of Public Well being. Black males face greater odds of creating kind 2 diabetes, struggling kidney failure, hypertension, stroke and a litany of different antagonistic ailments, in keeping with Dr. Frank Jones of the Morehouse College of Drugs. Life expectancy for Black males is 10 years shorter than for white males, whereas additionally they are much more possible than every other group to be victims of murder.
Jones stated probably the most sensible answer to beat these systemic points is to help extra Black well being care professionals.
“We don’t have enough Black doctors,” he stated. “Evidence shows that Black patients are healthier and live longer if they are cared for by Black doctors.”
He mentioned a startup known as the My Black Physician Listing, which permits individuals to seek for medical doctors within the Atlanta space. He hopes the director’s protection space will unfold statewide and to different main metros.
Credit score: Steve Schaefer /
Credit score: Steve Schaefer /
The convention was co-sponsored by the City League of Larger Atlanta and co-chaired by state Sen. Ed Harbison, D-Columbus, and state Rep. Omari Crawford, D-Decatur.
The elected officers spoke in regards to the significance of getting youthful African Individuals civically concerned. From encouraging voter participation to decreasing incarceration charges, the elected officers stated these efforts take root at a neighborhood degree.
“These statistics are heartbreaking to consider,” Harbison stated. “Black Georgians are some of our state’s most valued contributors… it’s up to us to find a way to combat crime and find equitability.”
“Well bless their hearts.”
