(NewsNation) — The mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, launched a coalition of Black mayors to tackle crime throughout the United States.
The Black Mayors’ Coalition on Crime is a partnership with the African American Mayors Association and aims to “harness the collective power of Black mayors across the nation to fight crime.”
The group met for its inaugural meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, hosting 21 mayors and other representatives from the District of Columbia, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Minnesota, Arkansas, Georgia, Arizona, California and North Carolina, according to a news release from Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
Russell Wigginton, president of the National Civil Rights Museum, facilitated this week’s event, which included a keynote by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ). Attendees heard from CCJ about crime trends and perspectives and case studies on successful crime-fighting initiatives.
Findings from a recent Gallup poll suggest Americans’ worries about crime in the U.S. is at its highest point since 2016.
Although the coalition is spearheaded by Black mayors, participation isn’t limited.
“My hope is that this will be the start of a broad ongoing national effort to find real solutions to this very complex issue,” Young said. “I believe we can leverage our collective platforms to create change in the policies, laws, and resources needed to reverse the trend and heal our communities. We cannot wait.”