INDIANAPOLIS — Earlier this week, the Indy TenPoint Coalition, Mayor Joe Hogsett and others celebrated what TenPoint said had been one year since the last homicide on the far east side of Indianapolis. Critics say that's simply not right.
Some far east side residents took to social media to express their criticism of the group that works to curb violence in Indianapolis's high-crime areas. Many critics even took to RTV6's Facebook post about the event Monday evening.
Among the many critics was Dee Ross, the founder of The Ross Foundation, a group that works to turn the tide of deadly violence on the far east side.
Now, TenPoint says they were celebrating the neighborhoods they patrol: Between 38th Street and 42nd Street, as well as the areas between Post Road and Mitthoeffer Road.
However, critics say the coalition is intentionally leaving out certain street and neighborhoods. Some are planning to hold what they call a 'Die and Lie' protest at 10 a.m. on Friday outside of the Lugar Plaza.
Community Activist, Shelley Covington, released this statement that demanded an apology from Mayor Hogsett, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Bryan Roach and Rev. Charles Harrison of TenPoint Coalition:
To Mayor Joe Hogsett, IMPD Chief Bryan Roach, and Rev. Charles Harrison of TenPoint Coalition:
The City of Indianapolis-Government Official Facebook Page published pictures and a statement which are clearly incorrect. This statement is a gross underestimation of homicides on the Far-Eastside of Indianapolis. While we hope this is not a ploy to get re-elected by whitewashing the travesty and unacceptable real number of homicides occurring on Indianapolis’ Far-Eastside, we sense otherwise. This is a clear implication that you do not care about BLACK lives, by adjusting boundaries and creating fake statistics, thereby forgetting so many victims on Indianapolis’ Far-Eastside and their families. The community will hold you three accountable for ignoring those lives that were lost. Mayor Hogsett is our leader, and by failing to recognize no less than SEVENTEEN other homicides that occurred on Indianapolis’ Far-Eastside tells WE the people that you care more about falsehoods that guarantee you a win than the citizens who have voted for you. The community deserves the truth as well as some form of closure instead of the blatant disrespect shown by you, Chief Roach and Rev. Harrison. Therefore, on Friday, June 21, 2019, WE the people will have a Die and Lie in front of the City County Building. Since the city lies, we lie! You cannot erase them; their lives matter. Now we demand an apology and a statement of truth about the Far-Eastside homicide numbers.
READ | Does the TenPoint Coalition model work?
LOOK | 2019 Homicide Map
