In Chicago, victims of violent crimes are often forgotten. Leaders have prioritized perpetrators over victims. When a parent loses a child to violence, words cannot express the pain and grief of such loss. I lost a son to violence. When I buried him, part of me went into the grave with him.
Last year, 28,443 people became victims of violent crimes in Chicago. Some of those victims lost their lives, and others have had to live with the fact that their perpetrators have not been charged or caught. Victims of crime can suffer physical, psychological and emotional harm; trauma; anxiety; and depression. The levels of violence in some Chicago neighborhoods rival those of war zones. Residents living in neighborhoods with the highest levels of violence suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
I applaud Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Lawndale for bringing victims of crime together to mourn loved ones and advocate for public safety solutions that address violence prevention and healing from tragedy. Noticeably absent from the conversation with victims of violence was their elected leaders. If elected leaders were required to attend funerals and gatherings with victims of crime, they would have a sense of urgency to use every means necessary to make neighborhoods safe. It is shameful that community members have become desensitized to violence.
A basic responsibility of every elected official is to protect the constituents they represent. However, we continue to have weekends in which multiple people are killed and 20-plus are shot. This past weekend, people armed with guns killed four and wounded 21 others. This year, 347 people have been slain in Chicago. That is 347 families who will have empty chairs at their holiday celebrations. This level of violence is unacceptable and must not be normalized. Too many children have to hear gunshots outside their homes.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, Gov. JB Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle hide behind their massive security details while citizens are victimized by perpetrators of crime. Every elected official takes an oath to protect the citizens they represent. How are they protecting citizens if they refuse to enforce federal immigration laws? How are they protecting citizens if they are more concerned with the rights of criminals than victims? Simply put, anyone who assaults another person should be arrested, and justice must be swift.
In many cases, there is no closure for family members because the perpetrators are not caught. Block Club Chicago and The Trace reported that the city’s homicide clearance rate is still declining, even with fewer homicides to solve. In 2024, police made arrests in 16% of fatal shootings within a year of the incident, down from 23% in 2022.
Violence is driving up health care costs and changes in DNA. A 2024 study by the University of Illinois Chicago found people living in Chicago neighborhoods with higher rates of violence were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, especially advanced stage cancer. According to researchers, the constant stress of violence might weaken the body’s immune system, making it harder to fight off cancer cells.
In addition, living in violent ZIP codes increases costs for property insurance and lowers property value. Violence costs homeowners millions in home equity. Violent crime is a major factor that limits upward mobility for communities.
Crime is not a Democratic, Republican or socialist issue. Victims of crime are Black, white and brown — it affects all of us. Their pain lingers because they have been forgotten and not received closure. In a civilized society, people must be held accountable.
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The following are suggestions to ensure victims of crime are not forgotten:
- Johnson should provide a monthly public statement about victims of violent crime including data broken out by race and neighborhood. The data should include clearance rates by Chicago Police Department.
- Pritzker, Johnson and Preckwinkle should collaborate on a permanent memorial to honor victims of gun violence. Also, putting the faces of current gun violence victims in the city and county buildings could serve as a reminder of them and the urgency to solve the issues of violence.
- Pritzker, Johnson and Preckwinkle should convene listening tours around the city, county and state to hear from victims of violence.
- Pritzker, Johnson and Preckwinkle should work with the federal government to ensure all resources are used to make neighborhoods safer.
Congress should pass legislation to stabilize the Crime Victims Fund, a little known pool of money that is primarily financed by monetary penalties from federal criminal cases. Declines in federal prosecutions and large-scale legal settlements have led to a major drop in the amount of money collected. Congress sets an annual cap on how much money can be withdrawn from the fund. This cap was set at $1.2 billion for fiscal year 2024, a nearly 40% decrease from the previous year. The cap for 2025 was set at $1.9 billion, and the administration has requested the same amount for 2026.
I am embarking on a crusade to elevate the voice of crime victims. Their voices may help solve the intractable violence problem in Chicago. I am hoping my listening tours will give voice to victims and provide recommendations for policymakers to act and make every neighborhood safe. We must never forget those who have been lost and who have suffered from violent crime.
I write this commentary to make those comfortable forgetting victims of violent crime uncomfortable.
Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate.
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