I am watching the discussion in front of Councilmember Phil Mendelson’s Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary about the use of “checkpoints” by the Metropolitan Police Department to stem the rash of violence that has defiled the communities situated to the north of Benning Road and Florida Avenue, in Ward 5 (bordering Ward 6 to the north).

It’s interesting to watch our democracy at work on this most serious of subjects.  Some of the public witnesses say they feel violated by the checkpoints – others say it’s the violence itself that violates their sense of rights.  There seems to be so much truth to both sides.

Police checkpoints are not the most subtle way to secure a neighborhood.  But they do send a message that the police are doing something, at least.  If that were all the Government was doing to respond to the spike in violence, then I think it would be fair to call it a publicity stunt.

But so much more is going on in the neighborhoods.  Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr., held a prayer vigil in Trinidad last Friday night, and hundreds were in attendance.  I visited a recreation center in the middle of that neighborhood last Monday, and saw dozens of elementary school age children participating in organized sports.  An AIDS awareness group was setting up a free health screening on the grounds.

This week, 15,000 young people will begin summer jobs through the Department of Employment Services.  This past weekend, Council Chairman Gray held another one of his monthly hearings on “Youth Issues,” where he invites young people under the age of 21 to testify on any topic they choose – many of them discuss the violence they face in their neighborhoods.

But let me give you one example of how tough the challenge is.  At Chairman Gray’s youth hearing this Saturday, the final panel was made up of three youths, two girls, and one boy, all 15 years of age.  One of the girls said her father was in prison for second degree murder.  The boy said his father had been murdered when he was in elementary school.  The hearing was on the Saturday before Father’s Day.  I looked at that young boy, and couldn’t imagine the pain he must have experienced when he found out his father had been killed.  I looked at that young girl, and wondered if she could comprehend the pain that her own father had caused.

A community has to have its own sense of equilibrium, of right and wrong.  For the most part, the violence that we are dealing with is completely senseless.  But I’m encouraged that we live in a city that is trying to do something about it, and struggles with what the right thing is to do. 

It will take courage to eliminate the violence in our communities, but facing up to it is the first step to overcoming it.