Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Shootings in Monroe, LA are happening with reckless and senseless abandonment, making our small country city, named as one of the 50 worst places to live in the U.S. by US Today, more of a nightmare. Violence has been occurring any and everywhere. Gun violence is so bad, that mainstream media is not reporting numerous crimes happening in communities of color. Monroe leadership has not addressed gun violence, and no one is publicly stepping in and speaking up, which is alarming. Families of not only the victims but also the suspects are hurting. Then, retaliation is a never-ending cycle of gun violence. Pastor/Overseer Inez Walker made a statement on her 72nd birthday, speaking from the heart and from on high, mentioning that the times we are living in are not going to get better but worse! Our Black youth, innocent bystanders, and people of color are dying due to reckless gunfire. According to police reports, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported shooting on Winnsboro Rd., Sunday, October 22, 2023. Deputies located a victim in his parked vehicle with what appeared to be gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. No further details were available, and the investigation is continuing. With more shootings in Monroe, no community will become immune to gun violence. What’s happening in south Monroe will happen throughout the city if not addressed. There is a B.A.L.M. in Monroe is a spiritual solution to a social problem. A B.A.L.M. in Monroe is a collaborative plan that every citizen, elected and appointed official, clergyperson, and organization can participate in to help improve the image of Monroe while inspiring at-risk males to take more responsibility for their actions and respect the lives of others-a balanced approach to lower the violent crime and murder rate in Monroe LA. Praise God for law enforcement.