Plan 10/30
Plan 10/30 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.
Through a series of public rallies at Fair Park Arena, the campaign seeks to encourage residents to take personal responsibility for the "culture of lawlessness" in the community. It is modeled after a similar initiative in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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, entitled "Why am I dying? Do you care?" 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, "Leap Up to the Challenge" was held on February 29 for African-American women.
A third rally, "Remember the Dream. Restore the Family" was held on April 4, to which all families were invited ("black, white, blue, green, whatever"). 5,000 Christian Bibles donated by Pat Robertson's 700 Club were distributed at the event.
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 29, 2008) "Pat Robertson to donate Bibles for Birmingham family summit." Birmingham News
External links
- Plan 10/30] project page at Birminghamal.gov