Mount Clemens summit to look at youth violence
Mayor organizes session in response to vandalism at high school, assault by mob on three victims.
Candace Begody / The Detroit News
MOUNT CLEMENS -- The Mount Clemens mayor plans to organize a summit to address youth violence in the wake of two recent incidents involving teens.
"We need to take a proactive stance in the community," Mayor Barb Dempsey said Tuesday. "We need to come up with a way to rectify these issues."
Last month, 25 graduating seniors allegedly vandalized Mount Clemens High School, and in a separate incident, a mob of 20 to 30 men was said to have assaulted three victims in separate locations in the city, seriously injuring one.
Five suspects have been charged in connection with the attacks on three people in Mount Clemens.
Though specific details have not been set, Dempsey said the meeting will take place shortly after the Fourth of July. It may replace a previously scheduled town hall meeting on crime that was tentatively planned for July 15.
She added that the meeting is likely to be scheduled at the newly built Cairns Community Center.
"I don't know what to expect of the meeting," Dempsey added, "but I'm hoping that we can stand together strong and come up with something that won't cost an arm and a leg."
Community leaders applaud the plan.
"It's an excellent idea," said Greg Murray, president of the Mount Clemens Community School District Board of Education.
"But I hope action comes out of it. People get together and make statements, and there's no action. I want there to be something tangible coming out of it."
A total of nearly 40 clergy members, school board members, community activists and law enforcement officials can expect to receive letters about the proposed meeting, said Dempsey, adding that the letters will be completed by Friday.
The meeting will be open to the public. A separate meeting with business and bar owners and downtown officials will be held later to discuss related issues.
The mob attack continues to generate controversy in Macomb County.
County Sheriff's officials said several people were ticketed Tuesday for distributing fliers in the area, citing the attacks.
The fliers, which also listed an address and Web site for the National Socialist Movement, said in part: "This sort of savagery must not be tolerated! We must reclaim our neighborhoods ... we must fight back before things get even worse! White men and women must stand together against gang violence."
Detroit News Staff Writer Mark Hicks contributed to this report. You can reach Candace Begody at (586) 468-7396 or clbegody@detnews.com.