Volume 13
June 2017 Edition
Holmes , who has experienced the tragedy of gun violence firsthand , has been working with the FBI since 2013 on issues involving gun crimes and the human trafficking of children .
( Chicago activist Andrew Holmes , who has lost two family members to gun violence , works with the FBI and Chicago Police to strengthen relationships in the communities they serve . Courtesy of the FBI and YouTube )
He is known to law enforcement and residents of violent neighborhoods as a rapid responder when a homicide occurs .
He arrives on the streets at all hours of the day and night to counsel and comfort the families of victims . And he encourages witnesses to come forward .
The work is meaningful to Holmes because his daughter was killed in Indiana when she was innocently caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting . And he recently lost an 11-year-old cousin in Chicago who was killed by a stray bullet meant for a gang member .
Holmes also visits high-crime neighborhoods , going street to street to hand out pamphlets urging residents to report gun crimes . In the troubled Auburn Gresham community recently , he spoke to Betty Swanson , block captain of her neighborhood watch group .
On the porch of her tree-lined street , Swanson told Holmes that one of her grandsons had been murdered a few months ago . “ He was going to visit his mom … after he got off work . Somebody walked up to the car and shot him . He was 28 years old .”
Community activist Andrew Holmes has been working with the
FBI since 2013 on issues in- volving gun violence . He regularly visits high-crime neighborhoods to urge residents to cooperate with law enforcement . In the Auburn Gresham community recently , he spoke to Betty Swanson , block captain of her neighborhood watch group . ( Image courtesy of the FBI )
Although her street is largely violence-free now because so many of the residents are senior citizens , Swanson said her block group works hard to keep the area safe , and — like Holmes advocates — that means speaking up when necessary .
“ One thing we try to do is to let witnesses know that it ’ s okay to talk ,” Holmes said .
“ We ask people to engage with law enforcement . You ’ ve got to work with law enforcement . I don ’ t care who it is — FBI , state police , U . S . Marshals , Chicago Police — you have to .”
Otherwise , the help needed to save a loved one might come too late . “ You ’ ve got to reach over and get that phone , call the FBI ,” he said . “ Show these criminals — not this block , it ’ s not happening .”
Murder and Social Media
For those unfamiliar with Chicago ’ s rampant gun violence , it would be easy to think that shootings happen because of traditional turf battles — one gang trying to muscle in on a rival ’ s street-corner drug business .
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