The Final Call | National News

New Orleans group uses ‘Squash the Beef’ billboards to help curb violence

By Jesse Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Jun 28, 2012 - 6:49:34 PM

What's your opinion on this article?

(FinalCall.com) - During the annual State of the City address at the end of May, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu could not sugarcoat the fact that reducing the violence in the streets continues to be his administration’s greatest challenge.

Mr. Landrieu, the city’s first White mayor elected in more than three decades, unveiled a five-point comprehensive plan titled “NOLA for Life” in hopes of reducing the murder rate. The plan has five objectives: stop the shooting; invest in prevention; promote jobs and opportunity; improve the corruption plagued police department; and get the community involved in the rebuilding of neighborhoods.

The first “NOLA for Life” volunteer day will be in July, wherein citizens will be encouraged to take the streets to push the initiative. “The cost of doing nothing is much more severe. The alternative is unacceptable,” said Mr. Landrieu.

According to the FBI, the Crescent City ranks 79th for violent crime rate out of 274 cities, has the 8th most murders of any American city and is number one for murders per person. The city’s average of 241 murders per year has consistently exceeded the national rate.

Reports show the murder rate fell more than 27 percent from January through March, compared to the first quarter of 2011. This year there have been at least 77 murders.

New Orleans Peace Keepers not waiting

To develop this plan, Mr. Landrieu stated that he brought together criminal justice leaders, social service providers, school officials and others.

One group interestingly not brought to the table was the New Orleans Peace Keepers. The group was founded three years ago after a young father murdered his two-year-old son because he did not want to pay child support.

The group is made up of men from a variety of backgrounds that see the challenges the community faces as being bigger than differences in faiths and philosophies.

“One of the most rewarding things I have ever done is participate as a Peace Keeper. This group of men are committed to using their time, energy, resources, and minds to save the children of New Orleans from senseless violence,” stated Oliver Thomas.

Since its formation the New Orleans Peace Keepers have walked through over thirty neighborhoods working to spread the message of peace, settling conflicts and connecting members of the community to services that would help improve the quality of their lives.

Last year they began an initiative called “Squash the Beef Hotline.” The purpose of the hotline is to give those who want to end a “beef” an opportunity to do so. When contacted by someone, they work to set up a meeting to serve as mediators. Since launching the hotline, the Peace Keepers have been able to successfully resolve several conflicts.

The most recent mediation involved two youths who had a conflict while at school. One of the youth was shot while standing on a corner with some of his friends. The student, who was shot, thought that the student he had a conflict with in school was responsible for the shooting. At the mediation, he learned that the student, whom he held responsible, had nothing to do with it and had no idea where he lived. After everything was said and done, the two young men agreed to end the beef they had with one another. The mother, siblings and school officials were all pleased to see that the matter was peacefully resolved.

“I could tell that the young brothers were happy to have someone intervene. They had a look of relief on their faces,” stated Calvin X, mediator and outreach coordinator.

To get the word out, the Peace Keepers have passed out fliers, ran radio ads, appeared on local radio stations and have a promotional YouTube video. The organizers feel that if they had more funding, they could inform more people about the initiative. However, limited finances have not stopped them.

“This initiative has been funded exclusively by members of the Peace Keepers and some members of the community. We are pleased to say that due to recent contributions we will now have two billboards that we use to promote the “Squash the Beef” hotline,” stated Student Minister Willie Muhammad, the New Orleans Peace Keepers spokesperson.

“We have been receiving numerous calls from people inquiring about the hotline and wanting us to come to do presentations at local schools,” said Willie Muhammad. “We are nearly finished with a mediation involving a family whose sons got into an altercation with another youth who runs with a neighborhood group that controls the drug trade in the area.”

The New Orleans chapter is part of a global movement spearheaded by Dennis Muhammad, who has been traveling throughout America and parts of London setting up branches. Their 18th chapter is being launched in Memphis in late June and a partnership with law enforcement is in the works in Queens, New York.

“The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan told us we must first make the peace before we can keep the peace. New Orleans is a great example of being peacemakers. People love seeing the billboards and the work they are doing,” said Dennis Muhammad. “As crime rises, the requests for the Peace Keepers are increasing. We have to go and stay out in the streets and earn the respect of our people.”

(The New Orleans “Squash the Beef” hotline number is 504-274-9426. To learn more about the Peace Keepers, visit www.thepeacekeepers.org.)