In his statement reacting to the devastating massacre at a Connecticut elementary school, President Barack Obama included his hometown in a list of tragedies.
"As a country we have been through this too many times," Obama said. "Whether it's an elementary school in Newtown or a shopping mall in Oregon or a temple in Wisconsin or a movie theater in Aurora or a street corner in Chicago, these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children."
Chicago violence seemed to peak over the summer when 41 were hurt and 10 were killed in gunfire over Memorial Day weekend. Since then Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Supt. Garry McCarthy touted strides in reducing violence in some of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods.
As of last week, murders were up 19 percent in Chicago since Nov. 25 and shootings were up 11 percent. Overall crime was down 9 percent. Over this past weekend at least one person was killed and 18 were wounded by gunfire.
"Frustration, yes, but that's just not good enough," the mayor said recently. "I'm frustrated that you can see dramatic progress on one level, because it's one of the largest declines in overall crime in a single year for the city, and yet a spike in shootings and homicides."
"I don't think we can be residents of Chicago without feeling some for our fellow residents in Connecticut, and our fellow residents in Portland, Ore.," Emanuel said Friday. "It does remind you of how fragile life is."
In acknowledging Chicago in his statement, Obama directed the country to "come together to prevent meaningful tragedies like this." He included Chicago.
Obama signed a proclamation that orders flags to be held at half-staff in honor of the school shooting victims in Connecticut.
"Our hearts are broken today," he said.
