"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."-Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Sunday, at a cookout, a two year old girl and a pregnant woman were among twelve people shot.  There are multiple people who witnessed the shooting; however, they are afraid to cooperate with police.  A "stop snitching" code of silence once reserved for gang members has now extended to everyday citizens-grandmothers, girlfriends, children. 
 
As Mayor, I do believe we can solve these issues but right now I am also fed up. I am fed up because there is no longer a standard in many of our communities.  In these communities, the rules of life are dictated by those with no regard for it.
 
When I was growing up, community came first.  We didn't have a choice.  We stood in solidarity because divided we knew we would fall under any injustice that threatened us-and there were many.  Now, with the leadership of the first black president of the United States illuminating issues of race and class, we have a renewed opportunity to band together and fight these injustices.  Instead, we are literally annihilating each other.  How can we demand respect when we don't have respect for ourselves?   
 
I hear excuses all the time: "I don't trust the police", "I don't want to be a snitch" or "I mind my own business".  But frankly, I am sick of these excuses. Even if you are not directly involved with a crime, your silence speaks volumes.  "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it," Martin Luther King, Jr.  We need people to step up!  
 
Obviously, it takes extreme courage to step forward and speak.  Communities now operate under an "ethics code" which discourages participation with the police and, as the controversy over the Obama "beer summit" made clear, there is still inherent distrust between the police and many of our communities.  However, it is through working together that last year we had the lowest homicide rate in two decades.  Our progress does not have to end there.  Our police officers are back on their feet, walking through your neighborhoods and are actively working to build relationships with your communities.  But without your help, they can't protect you.  Enough is enough.  Let's push the "restart" button and remember that putting community first is how we first began our progress and it is the only way we will continue.  Our communities have to respect themselves first to demand respect.  
 
It's a process, but I am asking you to have faith.  Have faith in your communities, have faith in your police officers, and have faith in yourselves.  Have faith because the only other option is to continue to live in fear.  No one is created to live that way. 
 
If you have information about gangs, guns, or violence call our anonymous tip line at 1-888-223-0033.  This line is safe, completely confidential, and open twenty-four hours, seven days a week.  If, like me, you are fed up with seeing the loss of innocent life, get involved.  There are four simple steps that you can take to be a part of the solution: report a crime, prevent crime, track crime, and speak out.  To learn more about these four steps to fighting crime visit www.baltimorecity.gov/crime.