City leaders are pushing to change Atlanta’s curfew for children 17 and under to curb crime involving the youth.
Atlanta City Councilmember Keisha Sean Waites said: “As a stopgap measure to save the lives of family members and our neighbors until we develop a solution, we must move quickly to protect the lives of our most vulnerable populations.”
Based on recent shootings and reports in high-traffic retail spaces, she recommends a mandatory curfew for those 17 and under.
She said, “given the recent shootings and reports in high-traffic retail spaces, this stopgap measure will save lives.”
Waithe’s is implementing these measures in response to the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Zyion Charles, who was killed in the vicinity of Atlantic Station on Saturday.
The city was already tightening its existing curfew for teens, but Charles’ death emphasizes the need for the curfew to be put in place.
“I think the goal is how we move forward and what steps we are going to take to ensure Zyion’s loss is not in vain,” she told 11Alive News. “It’s my hope and prayer that the city will move forward, and the county will move forward, and we will partner with other sister agencies to protect the public at large.”
The move will also require the Atlanta Police Department (APD)’s Video Integration Center (VIC) to integrate commercial-grade cameras at any location that has experienced historical patterns of violence, multiple incidents, or homicides.
Ultimately, Waites hopes the curfew plan will provide a quick solution to the city’s gun violence problem, which she attributes to wealth and social disparities as well as a lack of resources.
“Following the recent tragic death of a 12-year-old youth and the wounding of five others after a shooting at Atlantic Station over the holiday weekend and as our city closes in on 150 murders in the past 11 months, this senseless death of 12-year-old Zyion Charles has placed an exclamation point on the citywide cry for help,” she explained. “I believe that much of the violence in our city is a result of unmet needs, including lack of affordable housing, inadequate access to mental health services, and low-paying wages.”
According to Waites, a new curfew will be enforced in conjunction with the legislation by partnering with local shopping centers, malls, and areas where large youth groups gather without supervision.
On Monday, the Atlanta City Council plans to introduce a bill that includes exceptions for teens who work or live outside of shelters.
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