With a 37% increase in killings over the previous year, Washington, DC, is on course to have its deadliest year in almost two decades.
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| Washington, D.C. |
As of September data, there were 214 killings reported in the city, marking the first time the number has above 200 before October since 1998.
Young people, teens, and immigrants who immigrated to the United States for a better life are among the casualties. Nasrat Ahmad Yar, 31, a father of four and a former translator for the United States armed forces in Afghanistan, was shot on Capitol Hill in July1. Other victims include 10-year-old Arianna Davis, who was killed by a stray bullet on Mother's Day; 16-year-old Jamal Jones, who was shot near his high school on September 25; and others.
Most of the murders have taken place in the city's poorest, majority-Black neighborhoods, where inhabitants suffer a number of difficulties, including low income, high unemployment, limited opportunities for advancement in school and job, and persistent racial discrimination1. In 2020, the US Census Bureau reported that the median household income in the District of Columbia was $92,266. However, this number greatly fluctuated depending on the resident's race and ethnicity. Average White family income was $142,835, while Black family income was $46,1912. Black people had a poverty rate of 25.4%, while White people had a rate of 6.9%.
Some public figures and observers have pointed fingers at lax sentencing laws and inadequate police forces for the increase in murders. In response to the "state of emergency" and "war zone" situation1, they have demanded harsher punishments, more arrests, and even the deployment of the National Guard on the streets. Such actions, however, fail to address the underlying issues that fuel violent acts and have the potential to make matters worse by further isolating and oppressing already vulnerable populations.
Others have pointed out that in order to reduce crime, the city has to put more money into initiatives like social assistance, community development, and violence prevention. They have pushed for alternatives to jail that prioritize rehabilitation and restorative justice1, as well as for police reform and accountability. Some examples of such programs are Restorative DC, which promotes dialogue and healing between victims, offenders, and the community, and Cure Violence, which views violence as a public health issue and employs "violence interrupters" to mediate conflicts and provide support to those at risk; Life Camp, which provides mentoring, counseling, education, and employment opportunities to young people involved in or affected by violence; and Restorative DC.
The murder rate is rising in more places than just Washington, DC. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, several communities in the United States have seen a spike in violent crime, which has worsened existing social and economic inequities and caused widespread disruption. The FBI reports that in 2020 there were 21,570 homicides in the United States, a 29.4% increase over 2019. However, some municipalities have been successful in lowering their murder rates by using multi-pronged, all-encompassing approaches.
Oakland, California is one such city, with a predicted 27% decrease in killings in 2020 compared to 2019. By bolstering community policing and trust, increasing social services and resources for low-income residents, supporting grassroots organizations and leaders who work to prevent violence, and establishing a Department of Violence Prevention, Oakland has taken a multifaceted approach to reducing violent crime.
The soaring murder rate in the nation's capital is a reflection of a larger catastrophe that affects the whole country. The failure of the system is shown in the fact that profits are valued more than people, militarism is valued more than human rights, and punishment is valued more than justice. The United States' inability to guarantee the security of its own people casts doubt on its status as a democratic leader abroad. Washington, DC, needs more than simply law enforcement to stop this downward spiral. The culture of violence and inequality must be eradicated, and a culture of peace and solidarity must be fostered, so that the country can go forward.