Open Thread: Gang Members Hold Press Conference to Criticize Chicago Police

You read that right. Gang members in the most violent city in the nation criticized the police for being ineffective in combating...gang violence.

At a news conference organized by self-identified gang members Thursday morning, several speakers complained that police and city officials do not respect them, and that the only way to curb violence is to provide jobs and improve their community.

The men who spoke out Thursday morning blamed poverty, drugs and a lack of jobs for the problems in the streets. They also said that Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis' meeting with so-called gang leaders was a waste of time.

But when asked what could be done right now to stop the daily barrage of bullets on Chicago streets, they didn't have an answer. 

Could Chicago's crime problem have anything to do with the fact that they consider taking policy advice from the same violent criminals responsible for that problem?