Pubdate: Sun, 11 May 2008
Source: Post-Tribune (Merrillville, IN)
Copyright: 2008 Post-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.post-trib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3349
Author: Michelle L. Quinn

MARCHERS: 'PEOPLE ARE JUST FED UP'

GARY -- Lisa Ballard loves her 20-year-old son, Jeffrey Graham Jr., 
more than anything, and that's why she keeps trying to kick him out 
of the house.

After losing three of six older brothers to violence, Ballard, of 
Gary, vowed to keep the boy beyond the street's grasp, she said 
Saturday morning upon arriving at Indiana University Northwest's 
parking lot after a march against violence.

Ballard sent Jeffrey to Indiana University's Bloomington campus; when 
he didn't like it, she let him stay here for a semester before 
shipping him off to IUPUI.

Even her best efforts couldn't protect him.

This winter, Jeffrey and a friend went to pick up Chinese food when 
they were approached in another car by people who live near Ballard.

Jeffrey took the brunt of the shooting with five bullets, including 
one to the kidney. Two weeks later, he turned 20.

The morning after a woman was shot dead during an alleged failed drug 
deal -- bringing the city's total to 16 for the year so far -- rally 
organizer Dwight Taylor could find no better reason to march along 
Broadway. But at least as the violence careens out of control, the 
effort doesn't seem for naught.

"Our march did get some people listening," he said as he looked at 
the more than 100 people who walked alongside him. "People are just fed up."

Gary's chapter of the motorcycle group Buffalo Soldiers escorted the 
marchers on their path from 42nd Street to 33rd. Its president, 
Lawrence Popps, said Saturday's effort and those like it will take 
some time to catch on, but they will.

"It takes being that person to stop it," he said. "The violence is 
all about these young kids taking territories for drugs, and it's 
affecting the whole city," Popps said.

Ballard, who works in education, was asked by the organizers to tell 
her story to the crowd but she was nervous even though she's been 
telling her kids at school over and over.

Kevin Brown, 20, is one who's been listening; his cousin, Jeremy 
Wheatley, also 20, was shot and killed in January on Lake Street.

"Half the time when you're trying to enjoy yourself, you have to 
constantly look over your shoulder," Brown said. "And now my other 
cousin (Graham) was just shot." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake