Group Announces 'Murder-Free Monday On July 5 to Focus on U.S. Homicide Rate

Chicago-area group calls for moritorium on murder for one day, Monday, July 5, 2004, in launching unique grass-roots event

CHICAGO, IL (PRWEB) April 21, 2004 --- The Concerned Americans for Real Safety (CARS) today has called for a nationwide moratorium on murder on Monday, July 5, 2004 that will be in force throughout the United States. This unique grass-roots event, known as Murder-Free Monday," or MFM, is believed to be the first concerted effort ever initiated to dramatically reduce the number of homicides committed on a single day.
   
CARS selected July 5 as a symbolic gesture to celebrate Americas Independence Day weekend. With hundreds of thousands of American troops fighting and dying in military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, MFM is one way for American citizens at home to demonstrate their commitment to peace and to the value of human life.
   
This is Independence Day weekend when we celebrate the birth of our great country," said John Griffin, CARS president. Were asking Americans to do something very simple, very humane, and very patriotic -- not to kill each other for one day so that we all can enjoy the holiday weekend. I dont think thats asking too much. Of course, we hope the positive feeling will continue throughout the year, but with this being our first big national event, were trying to focus our energies on this one day -- July 5th."
   
Americans of all kinds have participated in special event days to draw awareness to numerous issues -- cancer, ecology, human rights, etc. However, there never has been a day dedicated to a topic as basic as eliminating murder or homicide. No one has ever thought to simply ask Americans to stop killing each other for one day just to see if it could be done. CARS organizers hope to change that with this years Murder-Free Monday observance on July 5.
   
That CARS is headquartered in metropolitan Chicago is noteworthy since the City of Chicago had the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation in 2003 with 599 murders. Even though that number was about 50 less than its 2002 total, Chicago outpaced rivals New York and Los Angeles. Nationwide murder figures for 2003 have not been released, but the murder rate has been trending downward over the past decade, according to published FBI statistics. Still, compared to most other leading western countries, the U.S. has an alarmingly high murder rate each year. MFM gives America the opportunity to make a significant difference in reducing that number, and hopefully to prove that real change is possible.
   
We dont pretend to be criminologists and were not going to correct the countless social problems that lead people to commit murder," Griffin said. Were just asking people to step back for a moment -- one day, actually -- and really think twice about any action that might lead to committing murder. From domestic disputes to gang warfare, we want people to do whatever it takes to let it cool down for a day. Lets all have a nice weekend and go to a parade, have a hot dog, watch some fireworks, and then go home safely."
   
CARS is a small, informal organization of concerned citizens in the Chicago area that has no connection with any political, religious, or ideological group. CARS hopes to develop a nationwide network of support that will generate the same level of enthusiasm as major grass-roots events such as Hands Across America and the Million Man March.
   
An agenda of nationwide events surrounding MFM has not been released while CARS will rely on the ability of local organizers to raise awareness within their communities. For more information about Murder-Free Monday, contact CARS at 708-366-2124, or via email at webby115@comcast.net.
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