Columbus neighborhood gathers to send “enough is enough” message on violence
COLUMBUS (WCMH) – A Columbus neighborhood is doing its part to try and stop the spike in violence.
The message from the neighborhood is “Enough is enough.”
The Southfield neighborhood in Marion-Franklin is holding a community dinner, with tents set up to give neighbors the space to talk.
Neighbors said just in the month of August, there have been seven different incidents of shots fired in the area, including bullets hitting several homes and two people being injured from those shots.
They’re glad no one was seriously hurt, but said this kind of violence doesn’t usually happen in the area.
Earlier this month, a woman was studying at home to get her degree in criminal justice when all of a sudden, a bullet came through the wall.
“I’ve been terrified because of bullets coming into the house,” she said. “I don’t even sleep right now. I’m up all night trying to figure this out.”
The bullet hit the house right over the front door and the woman, who asked her name not be used, said it ended up in the living room wall. No one was hurt.
Neighbors said two people have been injured when they were grazed by bullets.
So Columbus Stand Up and the Marion Franklin Civic Association organized Sunday’s gathering.
Police have said a fee times this summer that the department can’t stop the violence alone and need the community’s help.
Organizers hope bringing together young and old neighbors can help do that.
“We are talking,” said event organizer Sheila Eubanks. “We are not gonna sit back and let this type of crime take over our community. We have several seniors that are just scared. And that’s part of what this is today. We’re gonna let them know, it’s OK.”
“We want to come together as a community throughout the area and show people we’re here for you,” said Morgan Harper with Columbus Stand Up. “We’re here for each other and this is going to make an impact.”
This neighborhood represents a small fraction of the violence in Columbus this summer. About ten days ago, city leaders held a press conference where Mayor Andrew Ginther said the city can’t police its way out of everything that has happened. Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan asked the city to come together to rise above the surge in violence. On Saturday, Columbus Police Sgt. James Fuqua called on the community, too.
“You’ve heard me say it over and over — we need the community’s help,” Fuqua said. “This isn’t just a police problem. This is a city of Columbus problem.”
Neighbors came together for the previously organized community dinner, and the goal was to bring the generations together to be part of the solution to stop violence.
“We’re not gonna sit back and just let this go on,” Eubanks said. “So that’s why I’m here with my friends and family.”
Harper said she plans on having similar events in other neighborhoods.