In midst of COVID-19 pandemic, faith-based group takes on East St. Louis gun violence
The John DeShields Housing Complex in East St. Louis is the frequent site of shootings and homicides and some local pastors, community activists and citizens want the violence to stop.
Live Free, a faith-based organization that has taken aim on urban violence and social injustice, is bringing resources to the John DeShields to help its residents. The group believes a lack of resources, a feeling of hopelessness, a lack of proper nutrition and healthcare contribute to a cycle of violence, according to its website.
The group was joined by some local pastors and citizens held a peace walk at John DeShields last week.
Larita Rice-Barnes, a local pastor and executive director of Live Free 618, said the people they are trying to reach are not going to be found in churches, so the ministry is taking its message into the neighborhoods where it needs to be heard.
“We are starting our walks through the John DeShields again. This area has been identified as a hot spot,” Rice-Barnes said. “We need to bring attention here.”
A review of 19 years worth of police data related to homicides in East St. Louis showed that, out of 454 murders from 2000 to 2018, there were 82 in or within a block of one of the city’s public housing complexes.
“We have to teach people there is an alternative to violence. We have to give them the resources that will change their way of living,” said Rice-Barnes. “Our goal is to bring full resources to everyone who lives in the John DeShield’s.
The work is complicated by CDC guidelines intended to protect people from the novel coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease, COVID-19. But Live Free volunteers and other interested participants continue to wear personal protection equipment and maintain social distancing, she said.
The mission is worth the remaining risk.
“We believe we have to put in the work to get results, so we will be out here,” said Rice-Barnes. “These are human beings. We have to help them.”
Nationwide, COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on minority groups, a fact that is especially evident in the metro-east. From March 1 through June 1, almost half of confirmed coronavirus cases in St. Clair County were Black patients, though Black people make up just 30% of the population. A quarter of cases were white people, who account for 62% of the population.
And Black-majority communities have twice as many cases per capita as mostly white communities when comparing zip codes with similar testing rates.
“The virus is very serious and some of those most affected by this are people of color,” said Rice-Barnes. “We have to let the people who live in the John DeShields know that we can provide them with resources to calm their fears of hopelessness.”
The assistance includes resources to help people get jobs, food, medical care and clothes. Live Free also provides education about the benefits of wearing a mask, washing hands and social distancing.
Live Free set up a mobile help desk in the John DeShields. Anyone needing assistance is urged to call 1-800-516-5703.
“Some people feel they have no way out and they resort to violence. This is not the answer and we have to show them the alternate route, the safe route that will keep them alive and out of jail,” said Rice-Barnes. “We have to find out where they are broken and instead of applying a band-aid, we have to heal them.”
