Community groups call for action after CBS 2 investigation into Black women and crime

TAKES US TO THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES WITH A STORY SPARKED CONVERSATIONS AND CALL FOR ACTION. >> I AM SIMPLY HERE BECAUSE OF MY LOVE FOR BLACK WOMEN. >> I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM A PROBLEM SOLVER.

>> I AM HERE BECAUSE LACK WOMEN MATTER AND I WANT GENERATIONS AFTER ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN IS IMPORTANT AND CHANGE NEEDS TO COME ABOUT. >> Reporter: THEY ARE LEADERS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL SERVICE

PROGRAMS AND HEADS OF MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR FOUNDATIONS. AND FOR SOME — >> I AM ALSO A BLACK WOMAN WHO IS BEEN A VICTIM OF CRIME. >> Reporter: IT IS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL AND IT IS A CALL FOR ACTION AS THEY GATHER

AROUND A HUGE TABLE AT THE NORTH LAWNDALE EMPLOYMENT NETWORK. THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DATA FROM HER CBS 2 INVESTIGATION. THIS IS A 20 YEAR ANALYSIS OF CHICAGO CRIME REPORTS. >> YOU HAVE BATTERIES AND ROBBERIES. WHAT DAY OF WEEK AND

BY LOCATION TYPE. TRUCK WOMEN WHO LOOK LIKE THEM ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. >> I AM SHOCKED AND I HAVE BEEN A JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR AND PUBLIC DEFENDER BUT I NEVER JUST PICKED UP THAT THIS DATA EXISTED.

>> Reporter: HERE IS A TWIST. THE PERSON POSING THAT IMPORTANT QUESTION IS NOT A BLACK WOMAN. IT IS A BLACK MAN. >> WHAT SHOULD BE DONE AND WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP. >> Reporter: HE IS THE CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER.

>> MY SELFISH DESIRE WAS TO MAKE BLACK FEMALE VICTIMIZATION A PRIORITY AND WE WANT TO HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC STRATEGY TO ENGAGING IN RECRUITING WOMEN. >> IT IS PERCIVAL — PERSONAL FOR HIM AND THE YOUNGEST IS A LITTLE GIRL.

>> WHAT I THINK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT BLACK MEN PLAY IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TO SUPPORT OUR WOMEN AND WHEN I SAW THIS ON A GRAND SCALE IT SHOWED ME THAT WE HAVE FAILED AT DOING THAT. >> Reporter: NOW, HE IS DOING

HIS PART. >> WE ARE IN THIS ROOM FOR BLACK EXPERTISE IN MANY DIFFERENT SOCIAL IMPACT OF SECTORS. >> Reporter: FOR FINDING SOLUTIONS AND THESE BLACK SISTERS ARE GOOD TO HAVE THE TABLE.

>> MAYBE A CALL TO MEET WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE MAYOR AND HE IS A FATHER AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MAKE HAPPEN. >> WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? DOES

A POLICY NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE? DO WE HAVE TO GO TO SPRINGFIELD? >> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE THERE IS A WAY TO CONVENE A THINK TANK AND THAT IDEA. TRUCK THE IDEA OF THAT RESONATES WITH

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS AGENCY IN THE CITY. >> Reporter: WHAT ROLE CAN THEY PLAY? >> I THINK ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO CONVENE PEOPLE. >> Reporter: WHO SHOULD CONVENE PEOPLE?

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE WOMAN — WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED. THEY HAVE TO BE AT THE TABLE. YOU WANT FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES AND CERTAINLY OTHER CIVIC AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND IT HAS TO MATTER COLLECTIVELY TO EVERYONE

THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE SUFFERING IN THIS WAY BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE WILL GET LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. >> Reporter: OUR REPORT IN OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTED JUST HOW MUCH SOME WOMEN ARE SUFFERING LIKE MY A WILLIAMS.

>> I FEEL I HAD A LIFE CHANGING MOMENT. >> Reporter: IN BRONZEVILLE SHE WAS SHOT IN THE FACE BY A STRANGER. MAGIS IS LESS THAN A MILE FROM HER HOME. >> I LITERALLY CAN FEEL AND SEE AND HEAR WHAT SHE WENT THROUGH

IN MY MIND. IT WAS GUT WRENCHING AND IT WAS HARD. >> Reporter: JENKINS CONNECTED WITH WILLIAMS ON ANOTHER LEVEL AND ONE THAT SHE WISHES SHE DID NOT. >> I AM SCARED AND SHAKING. >> Reporter: LAST JANUARY HER

CAR WAS STOLEN OUTSIDE OF HER HOME AND CREDIT CARDS USED BY GAS AND FAST FOOD. >> I SAID, AGAIN, WHAT CAN I DO. >> Reporter: HERE IS WHAT SHE DID. HANDFUL OF LADIES GATHERED AND IT WAS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR A NON- PROPHET HEALTH AND WELLNESS ORGANIZATION. >> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT IF WE CAN LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN ABOUT PROTECTING BLACK WOMEN. >> Reporter: HER VISION WAS TO PRODUCE BUTTONS AND T-SHIRTS

LAYING OUT THE NUMBERS. >> MY HOPE IS THAT BY SOUNDING THE ALARM AND WE SPREAD THE WORD AND DO IT IN CHURCHES AND SPREAD THE WORD IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

>> YOU WILL SEE CALLS TO THE MAYOR TO BE RESPONSIVE AND TO ADOPTING BLACK FEMALE VICTIMIZATION AS PART OF THE CITY’S PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY. >> Reporter: HE KNOWS NONE OF THAT HAPPENS WITHOUT RESOURCES. >> TO ME THIS IS A FAILED

OPERATION AND IF WE DON’T SEE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SAYING LET’S GO PURSUE GRANT DOLLARS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE TOWARDS BLACK WOMEN IN THE CITY IN THIS COMMUNITY. >> Reporter: WE DO ALREADY SEE MOVEMENT AS THE RESULT OF OUR INVESTIGATION. THE CHICAGO CITY

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