SSN Commentary

When the ‘Peacemakers’ Become Victims

Policy field

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Coppin State University

Originally published as "When the ‘Peacemakers’ Become Victims," The Crime Report, August 10, 2021.

The last several months has seen an uptick in shootings and homicides in American cities that has gained national attention. But one less-known outcome of this violence has been the threat to the lives of violence interrupters working to end cycles of violence before they claim more victims.

That includes my home city of Baltimore, which has seen the recent deaths of two Safe Streets workers: Dante “Tater” Barksdale and Kenyell “Benny” Wilson in Baltimore.