A report by the FBI recently released reveals shocking statistics about just how violent Pennsylvania is becoming.
According to the report, The Keystone State is second in the nation in the number of African-American homicides.
Out of 419 black homicides that happened in Pennsylvania in 2010, Harrisburg ranked fourth out of the major cities in Pennsylvania. More than half of them happened in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania is number two, right behind Missouri in the number of black homicides in the nation. The homicide data is from 2010.
We spoke with NAACP leaders who say they're already taking action, hoping to change things.
The most recent data from the FBI ranks the 50 states according to their black homicide victimization rates.
The numbers from 2010 show Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation in black homicides, with 83 percent of victims shot and killed with handguns.
“Yeah, it does surprise me, very much, seems like a much safer place,” commented Mike Genna of Camp Hill.
Stanley Lawson is the president for the Greater Harrisburg NAACP Chapter.
“it's an unnecessary evil that's happening to these young men, in many cases who are 18, 19, 20-year-olds, have their whole life before them and yet are dead,” stated President Stanley Lawson.
Lawson and Homer Floyd, who's on the NAACP Executive Committee, are organizing meetings with young men locally and in Philadelphia.
The men believe in order to decrease homicides among blacks, you have to reduce drop-out rates and increase employment opportunities.
“Many of these kids can't get jobs any place,” added Homer Floyd. “Many of them don't have the skills, so drug trafficking becomes their profession and as a result, it's a violent situation out there.”
Sandy lives in Mechanicsburg and thinks the criminal justice system needs to be tougher.
“I think we've been too easy, not just on the blacks, but anybody committing crimes,” believes Sandy Cutler.
The NAACP leaders also say that building a trust between the community and police will also help bring the homicide numbers down.
According to the report, The Keystone State is second in the nation in the number of African-American homicides.
Out of 419 black homicides that happened in Pennsylvania in 2010, Harrisburg ranked fourth out of the major cities in Pennsylvania. More than half of them happened in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania is number two, right behind Missouri in the number of black homicides in the nation. The homicide data is from 2010.
We spoke with NAACP leaders who say they're already taking action, hoping to change things.
The most recent data from the FBI ranks the 50 states according to their black homicide victimization rates.
The numbers from 2010 show Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation in black homicides, with 83 percent of victims shot and killed with handguns.
“Yeah, it does surprise me, very much, seems like a much safer place,” commented Mike Genna of Camp Hill.
Stanley Lawson is the president for the Greater Harrisburg NAACP Chapter.
“it's an unnecessary evil that's happening to these young men, in many cases who are 18, 19, 20-year-olds, have their whole life before them and yet are dead,” stated President Stanley Lawson.
Lawson and Homer Floyd, who's on the NAACP Executive Committee, are organizing meetings with young men locally and in Philadelphia.
The men believe in order to decrease homicides among blacks, you have to reduce drop-out rates and increase employment opportunities.
“Many of these kids can't get jobs any place,” added Homer Floyd. “Many of them don't have the skills, so drug trafficking becomes their profession and as a result, it's a violent situation out there.”
Sandy lives in Mechanicsburg and thinks the criminal justice system needs to be tougher.
“I think we've been too easy, not just on the blacks, but anybody committing crimes,” believes Sandy Cutler.
The NAACP leaders also say that building a trust between the community and police will also help bring the homicide numbers down.