CHICAGO (CBS) — The founder and pastor of a megachurch in
Ohio told President Donald Trump he has spoken to gang leaders in Chicago who
want to work with the White House to reduce violent crime.
Dr. Darrell Scott, senior pastor of New Revival Center in
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was a guest of Trump’s at an African-American History
Month meeting at the White House. He said he is a “black Trump supporter,” and
claimed he was “contacted by some of the top gang thugs in Chicago for a
sit-down.”
Taking a swipe at former President Obama, who began his
political career as a community organizer in Chicago, Scott said the gangs
“want to work with the administration … they believe in this administration;
they didn’t believe in the prior administration. They told me this outta their
mouths.”
“They reached out to me, because they’re associating me
with you. They respect you. They believe in what you’re doing, and they want to
have a sit-down about lowering that body count. So in a couple weeks, I’m going
into Chicago,” Scott said. “I said we’ve got to lower that body count. We don’t
want to talk about anything else; get that body count down, and they agreed
that the principals that can do it – these are guys straight from the streets,
no politicians, straight street guys – but they’re going to commit that if they
lower that body count, we’ll come in and we’ll do some social programs.”
Trump said, “I think that’s a great idea, because Chicago
is totally out of control.”
“If they’re not going to solve the problem — and what
you’re doing is the right thing — then we’re going to solve the problem for
them, because we’re going to have to do something about Chicago, because what’s
happening in Chicago should not be happening in this country,” Trump added.
Chicago had more than 760 murders in 2016, the highest
number in 19 years. The first month of 2017 saw that trend continue, with 51
homicides in January, one more than January 2016.
Scott said the gang members who reached out to him want
to work with Trump.
“They see hope with you,” he said.
Trump said, “I think that’s great.”
Last week, Trump threatened in a Tweet that he would
“send in the feds” if Chicago couldn’t get a grip on its violent crime issues.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said if Trump really wants to help
Chicago address violent crime, he should stop talking about it, and actually
provide federal resources — including increased federal prosecutions of gun
crimes, more money for youth mentoring and jobs programs, and additional
federal agents to assist Chicago police in fighting gangs and gun violence.
“Send more FBI, DEA, ATF agents. We don’t have to talk
about it anymore. Just send them,” the mayor said Wednesday while meeting with
young men taking part in the Becoming A Man mentoring program. “Invest in law
enforcement with our Police Department. Every major city has to do more. Move more
FBI, DEA, ATF. They do a great job. Use the ability to prosecute gun crimes at
the federal level, and maximize that potential.”
The mayor said he has spoken repeatedly with the
president, vice president, and the president’s chief of staff about getting more
federal resources to address crime in Chicago — such as youth mentoring and
summer jobs initiatives.
“In that sense, they are aware of what our requests are,
and we will look forward to working with them on that,” he said. “Supporting
our police officers, supporting our kids, investing in our neighborhoods and
communities are key.”
Emanuel said he would like to see more federal funding
for youth mentoring so the city can expand the BAM program from three years to
five years. He said the program is currently open to young men in grades 8-10,
and he wants it opened to students in 7th and 11th grades as well.
“I’m a father of three. It takes you 18 years, and
sometimes longer, to be a role model, guidance; somebody that pushes, pulls,
nurtures. These young men need all of that and more,” he said.
The mayor also said, while the city’s summer jobs program
has expanded from 14,000 to 31,000 kids in recent years, federal support for
the program has been reduced.
“Give these kids a summer job. Help give them not only a
paycheck, but a résumé that goes with it, so the next time they apply for a job
they can prove that they actually had. You know how hard it is yourselves, that
first job,” he said.
Emanuel said he does not know why Trump seems so fixated
on Chicago violence.
“He’s an investor in Chicago, so obviously he believes in
it,” he said.
The mayor called Chicago a “fabulous city” and pointed to
recent accomplishments like Major League Soccer choosing Soldier Field to host
its 2017 All-Star Game, and Peoria-based Caterpillar choosing Chicago for its
new global headquarters. Emanuel said the federal government needs to invest
more in economic development in Chicago, and to in programs that will help its
youth take advantage of that progress.
“We will never be the city we can be unless also these
young men not only believe in themselves, but all that potential investment –
that is happening, that does make Chicago a great city – that they also can
participate,” he said.
Scott’s comments about violence in Chicago prompted an
angry response from community activist Jedidiah Brown, who has taken part in
anti-Trump protests, but also has been a frequent critic of the Chicago Police
Department and the Emanuel administration. In a series of Tweets on Wednesday,
he accused Scott of exaggerating his claims about speaking to top gang members
in Chicago.
Brown said the people Scott spoke to are “no longer in
streets” and don’t have any control over gangs that would allow them to
decrease violent crime in Chicago.
_________________________
Emanuel Tells Trump To ‘Send More FBI, DEA, ATF Agents’
Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to reporters at Hyde Park Academy, while meeting with young men taking part in the Becoming A Man mentoring program. (Credit: CBS)
CHICAGO (CBS) — Shortly after President Donald Trump
suggested it would be a good idea to sit down with Chicago gang leaders, and
again said he might have to take matters into his own hands to address violent
crime in the city, Mayor Rahm Emanuel essentially told the new president to put
his money where his mouth is.
At a Black History Month meeting at the White House, an
Ohio pastor said “some of the top gang thugs in Chicago” reached out to him for
a “sit-down” to figure out how to “lower that body count” in exchange for
social programs.
“I think that’s a great idea, because Chicago is totally
out of control,” Trump said.
The president also doubled down on his threats to “send
in the feds” to fix Chicago’s crime problems.
“If they’re not going to solve the problem — and what you’re
doing is the right thing — then we’re going to solve the problem for them,
because we’re going to have to do something about Chicago, because what’s
happening in Chicago should not be happening in this country,” Trump added.
Mayor Emanuel said Trump should stop talking about crime
in Chicago, and actually provide more federal resources for the city.
“Send more FBI, DEA, ATF agents. We don’t have to talk
about it anymore. Just send them,” the mayor said Wednesday while meeting with
young men taking part in the Becoming A Man mentoring program.
The mayor said he would like to see increased federal
prosecutions of gun crimes, more money for youth mentoring and jobs programs,
and additional federal agents to assist Chicago police in fighting gangs and
gun violence.
“Invest in law enforcement with our Police Department.
Every major city has to do more. Move more FBI, DEA, ATF. They do a great job.
Use the ability to prosecute gun crimes at the federal level, and maximize that
potential.”
The mayor said he has spoken repeatedly with the
president, vice president, and the president’s chief of staff about getting
more federal resources to address crime in Chicago — such as youth mentoring
and summer jobs initiatives.
“In that sense, they are aware of what our requests are,
and we will look forward to working with them on that,” he said. “Supporting
our police officers, supporting our kids, investing in our neighborhoods and
communities are key.”
Emanuel said he would like to see more federal funding
for youth mentoring so the city can expand the BAM program from three years to
five years. He said the program is currently open to young men in grades 8-10,
and he wants it opened to students in 7th and 11th grades as well.
“I’m a father of three. It takes you 18 years, and
sometimes longer, to be a role model, guidance; somebody that pushes, pulls,
nurtures. These young men need all of that and more,” he said.
The mayor also said, while the city’s summer jobs program
has expanded from 14,000 to 31,000 kids in recent years, federal support for
the program has been reduced.
“Give these kids a summer job. Help give them not only a
paycheck, but a résumé that goes with it, so the next time they apply for a job
they can prove that they actually had. You know how hard it is yourselves, that
first job,” he said.
Emanuel said he does not know why Trump seems so fixated
on Chicago violence.
“He’s an investor in Chicago, so obviously he believes in
it,” he said.
The mayor called Chicago a “fabulous city” and pointed to
recent accomplishments like Major League Soccer choosing Soldier Field to host
its 2017 All-Star Game, and Peoria-based Caterpillar choosing Chicago for its
new global headquarters. Emanuel said the federal government needs to invest
more in economic development in Chicago, and to in programs that will help its
youth take advantage of that progress.
“We will never be the city we can be unless also these
young men not only believe in themselves, but all that potential investment –
that is happening, that does make Chicago a great city – that they also can
participate,” he said.
Last week, Trump threatened in a Tweet that he would
“send in the feds” if Chicago couldn’t get a grip on its violent crime issues.
Trump and White House aides have provided few specifics
about what he has in mind. Spokesman Sean Spicer last week said federal help
could come from a variety of sources.
“I think what the president is upset about is turning on
the television and seeing Americans get killed by shootings; seeing people
walking down the street and getting shot down; the President of the United
States giving his farewell address and two people being killed that day,”
Spicer said. “What he wants to do is provide the resources of the federal
government, and it can span a bunch of things. There’s no one thing. There can
be aid. It can be – if it was requested up through the governor through the
proper channels – that the federal government can provide on a law enforcement
basis. But there’s other aid that can be extended as well, either through the
U.S. Attorney’s office, or other means that will ensure that the people of
Chicago have the resources to feel safe. That’s what he means.”
Chicago had more than 760 murders in 2016, the highest
number in 19 years. The first month of 2017 saw that trend continue, with 51
homicides in January, one more than January 2016.
