Governor Quinn Names Anti-Violence Commission

CHICAGO – July 25, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today named members to his newly-formed Illinois Anti-Violence Commission, asking them to bring a grassroots, community-based approach to confronting the deadly violence facing many Illinois communities.

“When violence claims someone’s life, the impact of that loss ripples throughout the entire community for years to come,” said Governor Quinn. “Every member of this panel has lost a family member to violence, so they bring personal, real-life experience that can help to guide us toward wise, effective and neighborhood-focused anti-violence programs.

The commission will hold hearings to gather testimony from community members and neighborhood groups as well as experts in violence prevention and law enforcement. The commission will submit a report on its findings in mid-November when the Illinois General Assembly reconvenes.

“Violence is a community problem, and it needs a community solution,” Governor Quinn said. “The members of the Illinois Anti-Violence Commission will help us improve Illinois’ existing anti-violence programs and find new, workable solutions to save lives and rebuild neighborhoods.”

All of the members of Governor Quinn’s Illinois Anti-Violence Commission have lost family members to violence – some in the past few months, some many years ago. Their personal experiences with deadly violence and its aftermath will inform their findings as they seek information about the growing impact of violence in Illinois communities and develop new, grassroots ideas for violence prevention.

“I look forward to working with the other members of the Illinois Anti-Violence Commission to find ways everyone can work together to stop violence in our communities,” said Pamela Montgomery-Bosley, who lost her 18-year-old son Terrel Bosley in 2006 when he was shot and killed outside of Lights of Zion Missionary Baptist Church. “Nobody should ever have to experience the pain of losing a loved one to violence.”

The members of the Illinois Anti-Violence Commission include:

Gloria Padron lost her 16-year-old son Anthony when he was riding his bike home from a friend’s house in 2004 and was shot and killed by two kids.

Tom Vanden Berk lost his son 15-year-old son Tommy to gun violence in 1992.

Pamela Montgomery-Bosley’s 18-year-old son was shot and killed while coming out of church in 2006. Terrel Bosley had hopes of becoming a Gospel musician.

Malcolm Weems lost his father to gun violence.

Teresa Garate lost her father in 1993. Cesar Garate was shot several times by a tenant who was upset over being evicted.

Sandra Wortham is the sister of Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV, who was shot and killed during the attempted theft of his motorcycle.

Jackie Algee lost her son Kenneth Langston Van Doren II, in 1995 just after his 19th birthday. To this day, no one knows who killed him.

Denise Reed lost her 14-year-old daughter Starkesia when she was shot to death in her home while getting ready for school in 2006.

Sarita Villarreal lost her 26-year-old brother Antonio Marquez in 2002. Antonio, who was about to become a police officer, was stopping to help a homeless person early in the morning when someone shot and killed him.

Lucy Sanchez lost her daughter, daughter’s father and stepson all in the same violent incident in 2002.

Tonya Burch lost her son Deontae Smith in 2009 when two girls started fighting at a block party and pulled out a gun and starting shooting.

Martha Cruz lost her son Peter Cruz on the day before his 16th birthday in 1990.

Donna Marquez lost her brother, Chicago Police Officer Donald Marquez in 2002.