Chicago Radio Stations, Emanuel Unite Against Violence

By Staff in News on Jun 5, 2014 9:55PM

Chicago urban radio stations joined together last Sunday night with Mayor Emanuel and listeners across the city to take a stand against violence. Stations including 107.5-WGCI, Power 92.3, Soul 106.3, V103 and WVON 1690 AM took part in the first of four simulcasts promoting the “Put the Guns Down” movement, launched by Emanuel last month.

The host for the two-hour long “Sunday Open Mic” night was ABC7’s Evelyn Holmes, opening the floor for a discussion of solutions to the citywide violence issue to the show’s guests as well as callers. Special guests including Mayor Emanuel, Torrey Barrett, Executive Director of the K.L.E.O. Community Family Life Center, Frankie Robinson from Power 92, and Mike Love of Soul 106.3 were on hand to voice their opinions and get the conversation started.

The initiative aims to get Chicago urban radio stations and their audiences talking about the anti-gun message, airing public service announcements against violence. The guests discussed the role media as well as music plays in violence and how the movement and putting the message out there could make a difference.

“Some of these kids just don’t have a chance, one bullet and they’re gone,” said Joe Soto of V103. “It’s about you, it’s about your family, put the guns down…if we save one person, then we did our job.”

Tony Sculfield, the host of 107.5’s “The Morning Riot,” suggested that although the influence of music on young people is apparent and the message these artists have is still one they have the right to tell, it shouldn’t be the most meaningful.

“In between the music and in between the songs,” said Sculfield, “the parenting and community has to be there…I think we as a community, as a village, need to offset that message. There should be no message in your household that gets through stronger than yours as a parent.”

The discussion led to callers voicing their opinions on violence in the streets and what possible tactics could be taken to end it from education to home-life to political change.

“It’s a citywide problem that requires a citywide response,” said Emanuel.

By: Megan Daley