Summer is killing season in Chicago

Ahot summer weekend, when Chicago should be at its most liveable, brings an undercurrent of dread and horror to this city. Summer is block party season, beach season, baseball season. But in some neighbourhoods, summer is killing season – when armed gang members run amok, firing at each other and anyone in their way.

The death and injury total from Friday night to Monday morning (local time) numbed the senses: at least 74 people were shot, 12 of them killed, according to a tally by Tribune reporters. Those are figures from a war zone; they shouldn’t reflect the reality of an August weekend in an American city.

Fred Waller, Chicago police department’s chief of patrol, blames the violence on the proliferation of illegal guns. But he also blames ‘‘the culture’’, because Chicago’s terrible tradition of gun violence is connected to many aspects of life in struggling pockets of the South and West sides. A lack of job opportunities contributes to hopelessness. Families are fractured.

This does not absolve the police department of responsibility. It needs community members to help fight crime, but Chicago has significant trust issues between police and residents.

The violence goes on and on, from killing season to killing season. It is the city’s great shame and cannot be forgotten.