Over the last few years, violent crime has seen an uptick in America. Some of it is attributed to massive, unchecked immigration, but much of it has been domestically increasing for years. Among these violent crimes, one of the most affected demographics is African-Americans living in inner cities.

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The Black Lives Matter organization (BLM) has resolutely blamed much of this violence on “over-policing” caused by violent law enforcement. Yet, less than one-percent of arrests end with the use of lethal force. According to Statista, more whites are shot to death than blacks in these situations. But BLM focuses on Black Americans killed by white perpetrators, not Blacks killed by Blacks, or the impact of gang violence on minority communities.

Another more alarming realization hasn’t been getting much attention.  A recent short documentary from PragerU details that children are falling victim to thousands of violent crimes in inner cities. In this video, former BLM activist Xaviaer DuRousseau details the consequences of de-criminalization and threatening to abolish law enforcement. He interviews parents whose young children were killed by gang violence. One of these parents, Happy Gregg, says, “When my son was murdered, I thought there would be outrage and that justice was gonna be swift. But I realized there’s no outrage; I’m gonna have to be that outrage.” She also said, “I realized a lot of children have been murdered, and I had no idea.”

Gregg’s story, and stories like hers are only footnotes in mainstream media compared to the media coverage about “racist cops.” The death of Gregg’s son MJ, who was only four, is a sobering example of what BLM’s damaging influence can inflict on inner-city communities.

The documentary also features insights from influential figures like Bishop E.W. Jackson of STAND and Rafael Mangual of the Manhattan Institute, who discuss the political and cultural shifts that have contributed to this crisis.  According to Jackson, an average of 10 children die every month from street violence, which the perpetrators call “collateral damage.”

Pop culture often neglects the real issues plaguing these communities. As we grapple with the consequences of violence, it is crucial to recognize that the current narrative often omits the voices of those directly affected by crime within the community.

How can Scripture help us pour the spirit of God into these issues? Wherever the spirit of God resides, evil cannot stay. Romans 12:21 tells us, Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (ESV). In light of these tragedies, let us pray for those afflicted by violence.

• Pray for victims and criminals.
• Pray the plans of those who do evil will be abolished, and that they would be convicted and converted by the Holy Spirit.
• Pray for the parents of lost children, that they would not be killed also by endless grief and that they would be comforted by the Father and by Christians (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
• Pray for the cities and communities affected by these crimes, so that the hearts and minds of their leaders can be changed.
• Pray for the children in these environments that their lives will not be cut short.

Add your own prayers in the comments below.

T.K. Robinson is a student and part-time (amateur) philosopher. In his downtime, he enjoys reading, music, and chronic daydreaming. His Scripture-oriented commentary usually involves the younger generation (especially Gen Z). He wants to shed light on important current events regarding his peers and share insights from a Biblical perspective. Photo Credit: Elvert Barnes – https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/50318630412/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=97425313.