Plan 10/30
Plan 10/30: Leap Up to the Challenge (formerly Why am I dying? Do you care?) is a campaign organized by Birmingham mayor Larry Langford and Frank Matthews of the Mayor's Office of Citizen's Assistance to engage community leaders to reduce violent crime in the city and the metropolitan area. The campaign seeks to encourage black men to take personal responsibility for the "culture of lawlessness" in the community, and is modeled after a similar initiative in Philadelphia. The name reflects that fact that most violent crimes are committed by black males between the ages of 10 and 30.
Approximately 3,000 African-American men attended the 2-hour kick-off rally at Fair Park Arena. Non-blacks and women were excluded from the event, as were representatives of the press. Speakers included Langford, Birmingham Police chief A. C. Roper, Tommy Lewis, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church Pratt City, former pro-athlete Bo Jackson and two inmates from the St Clair Correctional Facility. The rally was preceded by a gun buy-back sponsored by the Birmingham chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
A second rally, aimed at African-American women, was held on February 29 at Fair Park Arena.
A third rally on April 4, to which African-American families are invited, will include the distribution of 5,000 Christian Bibles donated by Pat Robertson's 700 Club.
References
- Bryant, Joseph D. (February 4, 2008) "Langford plan has sights set on crime." Birmingham News
- Williams, Roy L. (February 9, 2008) "Mayor Langford asks black men to reclaim crime-ridden neighborhoods." Birmingham News
- Bryant, Joseph D. (March 28, 2008) "Televangelist Pat Robertson to donate Bibles for Birmingham summit." Birmingham News