Jacksonville’s crime reduction task force met for the first time Friday.
Just minutes before the meeting, families of those lost to Jacksonville crime gathered outside City Hall, calling for action instead of another conversation.
“No more meetings." Latsha Hobbs said, "It’s time for action. Pray through your feet. Our children are dying here.”
Hobbs' son, Maurice, was shot and killed in January 2017.
Here’s a look at the task force members. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/PLHh742y0v
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) January 25, 2019
She told Action News Jax discussions and studies aren’t the answers to the violence that claimed son’s life.”
“It’s meeting after meeting after meeting," She said. "At what point are we going to stop meeting and actually do something about it?”
The task force reviewed the city’s crime statistics.
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Sheriff Mike Williams said despite the perception, crime is down in Jacksonville. “You’ve got to get involved in the lives of young people early, and keep them busy,” the sheriff said.
Hobbs said meetings don’t have that effect on youths.
“My boots are on the ground. I’m doing my job as a mother. I’m doing my job as a citizen of Jacksonville. We need everyone else to come together to help conquer this epidemic of gun violence,” said Hobbs.
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Sheriff Mike Williams says law enforcement can treat the symptoms of crime, but only community effort can get to the root cause. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/Y3MlkRoxkm
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) January 25, 2019
Right before this gathering family members of victims lost to gun violence gathered outside City Hall calling for action instead of meetings. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/R20RwpSOp3
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) January 25, 2019
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