Task force on violence listens to Columbia youth

Community members speak out in a series of public forums aimed at curbing violence in Columbia. The Mayor’s Task Force on Community Violence hosted the series. Friday night was the third and final public forum. People gathered at the Armory Sports and Recreation Center to hear from a diverse panel, all of them familiar with violence in Columbia.

All week, the task force has been hearing from the public. First members heard from the community at large, then parents- Friday night, youths. The task force wants to know what youths experience when they’re out and about.

“What do they experience in the mall? “What do they experience walking down Broadway? Do they walk down Broadway? And if they do or if they don’t-why? What about school?” said David Thomas, member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Community Violence.

The 13 members of the task force have spent almost a year and half researching violence in the city. The results of the exhaustive study will be released in a report, which will include proposals for curbing violence.

The task force members and forum attendees say listening to the youths is a critical part of it. “The sooner we teach our youth how to handle situations where they could become violent, the sooner violence will decrease in our communities,” said Rob Stewart, a forum attendee.

The Mayor’s Task Force on Community Violence anticipates it will release its report the first week of November at the City Council meeting.