Again violence erupted on our streets. The Washington suburb was the stage upon which the bloody farce of gang violence was played out. Where were the forces of Law and Order? The police, as usual, were steering well clear. The whole city may soon become a no-go zone for law abiding and peaceful citizens. Even the corporate forces were absent. It is not known how many lives were lost.

Yes, both city police and private agencies turned up after the event to ‘investigate’ but no arrests were made and the so called investigation was a sham. This paper calls for action on the part of the city authorities to do something, and soon. Those in power had best remember that there is an election imminent and the people will make their voice heard. Watch out City Hall; if you don’t act and act now the electorate will put others with more guts in your place.

In a frightening development, it was rumoured that new weapons are falling into the hands of these street gangs. Explosions could be heard amidst the rattle of machine gun fire. These were, reportedly, too powerful to be grenades and could be ex-military hardware. Where are the city’s youngsters finding these weapons and who is supplying them? These are questions that need answering and a solution found to this blight on our fair city.