Trump cites Chicago gun violence in speech
Donald Trump faulted President Barack Obama for failing the nation's inner cities and cited Chicago's history of gun violence as an example of that as he accepted the Republican nomination Thursday night.
"I have a message for all of you: The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon, and I mean very soon, come to an end. Beginning on Jan. 20 of 2017, safety will be restored," Trump told delegates.
"The most basic duty of government is to defend the lives of its own citizens. Any government that fails to do so is a government unworthy to lead," he said.
Trump, who has billed himself as a "law and order" candidate, contended homicides jumped by 17 percent in the nation's largest cities, calling it the biggest increase in 25 years.
"In the president's hometown of Chicago, more than 2,000 people have been the victims of shootings this year alone. And almost 4,000 have been killed in the Chicago area since he took office," Trump said.
"Decades of progress made in bringing down crime are now being reversed by this administration's rollback of criminal enforcement."
A Tribune review of shooting incidents in the city showed more than 2,200 people had been shot this year as of July 20. The number of deaths since Obama took office on Jan. 20, 2009, was not immediately available.
Trump was correcting an earlier misstatement. During a July 12 rally near Indianapolis, Trump gave a larger, inaccurate homicide number for Chicago during the Obama presidency.
"Look at Chicago, look at what's going on," he said. "Since President Obama became president, almost 5,000 killings in Chicago and nobody talks about it. Well, we're going to start talking about it."
Also Thursday, Trump pledged to put "the American people" first with a plan to "begin with safety at home," including "safe neighborhoods."
"This administration has failed America's inner cities," he said. "It's failed them on education. It's failed them on jobs. It's failed them on crime. It's failed them in every way and at every single level."
rap30@aol.com
mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com
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