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Senators want Chicago in Anti-Gang Effort

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Both of Illinois' senators want to meet with U.S. Justice Department officials to talk about including the Chicago area in the department's Comprehensive Anti-Gang initiative.

Senator Dick Durbin says Chicago is home to some of the largest and most violent gangs in country. However, the city has been left out of a program created to enhance gang prevention across the country.

Since April 18, at least 54 shootings have taken place in the Chicago area, resulting in at least 15 deaths. Law enforcement officials have expressed concern that as the weather warms, gang violence will worsen.

In a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Durbin and Senator Barack Obama asked that the Justice Department make the reduction of gang violence in the Chicago area a top priority of its anti-gang efforts.