Atlanta Mayor focused on rerouting teens away from gang activity

ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS46) – Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens wore sneakers strolling into the C.T. Martin Rec Middle on Wednesday evening.

On this evening, he took a seat on the sideline rooting on the handfuls of teenagers enjoying basketball within the league he launched.

It’s week 5 of Dickens’ “Midnight Basketball” league, created to present Atlanta youth an alternative choice to partaking in crime.

“It’s actually giving them another choice. It is a alternative. And it is a better option of issues to do on a Wednesday evening than doing a few of the different issues individuals are drawn to,” mentioned Dickens.

This week, Fulton County DA Fani Willis, in a 56-page indictment, mentioned she’s working to prosecute 28 individuals allegedly related to the YSL, Younger Slime Life, gang.

Willis mentioned gang exercise is answerable for 75-80% of all of Fulton County’s violent offenses.

Dickens mentioned to curb gang exercise, town is concentrated on reactionary efforts, like arrests, but in addition putting in extra crime-deterrence alternatives, like basketball, to reroute youth away from violence.

“On the entrance finish of it, it’s occasions like this midnight basketball, the summer time youth program. Issues that deter of us from getting concerned in gangs and crime to start with, so, that begins proper right here with a program like this,” Dickens mentioned.

Mayor Dickens additionally introduced town is offering 3,000 jobs to teenagers this summer time.

This system is one other effort by town to interact youth in wholesome alternate options to crime.

Dickens mentioned teenagers 14-24 years previous can enroll in internships or jobs with town or native companies.

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