Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 5/25/16. Local Nation of Islam Leader Kevin Muhammad speaks about a patrol car he led the community in purchasing in addition to establishing a hotline to assist people in resolving conflict. These steps are among many he’s taking to help inner city communities alleviate violence.Faced with growing violence in their communities and a police force they say has not met their needs, some Chattanooga residents have launched a homegrown effort to wrest control of the streets from criminals.
Nation of Islam leader Kevin Muhammad and community leaders recently purchased a patrol car, are fixing up a donated house to serve as their headquarters and have set out to take back Alton Park.
If successful, they hope to branch out, using their plan as a model to end violence in every blighted neighborhood in the city.
“We will have a small-scale model of people coming together from different faith beliefs, homeowners, young people, to set an example of how we can bring peace into the community and rid it of violence.” Muhammad said.
More than 60 shootings and 15 homicides have occurred in Chattanooga this year. Police have said several shootings are gang-related.