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Is Joakim Noah’s Safety at Risk?

By Paul Steeno

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Bulls center Joakim Noah will stop at nothing in his effort to curb the violence in the city of Chicago. Apparently, collaborating with gang affiliated individuals is part of his anti-violence campaign agenda.

According to Fox News Chicago, on Friday, March 27, 2015 Uchenna Agina was shot while sitting in a car in the Avalon Park neighborhood in Chicago. Agina was 24 years old at the time of his death and served as the manager for Chicago rapper Durk D. Banks known more commonly as Lil Durk.

Joakim Noah confirmed that he had met with Agina hours before he was gunned down late Friday night. The two had met to discuss Agina’s involvement in Noah’s “Rock Your Drop: Drop of Consciousness” campaign that aims to end violence in Chicago. A teardrop emblem serves as the symbol for the campaign. According to its website, the purpose of the teardrop is to “recognize the pain of losing someone to violence [and] symbolize strength and commitment to positive change.” The teardrop was created by Noah’s mother Cecilia Rodhe.

Noah’s “Rock Your Drop: Drop of Consciousness” Campaign earned him the ‘NBA Community Assist Award for the month of February. 

After the Bulls 111-80 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday, Joakim Noah issued a statement regarding the murder of Agina the night before.

"It’s very sad. What’s going on in this city is very real. I signed up for this, and I’m just doing everything I can to do something positive. We need to keep up the good fight. Everything I’m doing with my foundation comes from my heart, and it’s important that we don’t turn our backs on anybody. “I just know that someone came to my house, and we were talking about doing some work for the kids, doing something positive, and he got murdered. I never experienced anything like that. My respects go to his family and to his friends. I just hope that we can find solutions.’"

The fact that Agina was murdered hours after meeting with Noah hasn’t deterred his willingness to collaborate with potentially gang-affiliated individuals in the future to forward his campaign to stop violence in Chicago.

"I’m not staying away from anybody. The reason why I think these rappers are important is even though their message is violent in Chicago, they are a force. And I want to engage with them, and I want to work together with them to do something positive. . . . Their followers and the people who follow them is who I’m trying to reach."

Devin Jackson, manager for Lil Durk’s DJ, confirms that Agina “wasn’t a gangbanging type of dude.” However, Agina’s former client Lil Durke is a confirmed member of the Black Disciples Street Gang in Chicago. Durke has thrown his support behind Noah’s “Rock Your Drop” campaign as evidenced by a recent video he posted on his twitter page.

In the last five years, Lil Durk has been cited with two separate weapon charges. Durk is affiliated with the Black Disciples gang in Chicago, Illinois. The gang participates in a litany of criminal activities including drug trafficking, theft, money laundering, embezzlement and murder among other activities. The gang resides in a complicated network of alliances and is known to be in conflict with other prominent street gangs in Chicago including the Gangster Disciples and Almighty Black P. Stone Nation.

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Noah has made it clear that he is willing to collaborate with dangerous people in order to reach his goal of ending violence in Chicago once and for all. This grassroots approach to his campaign is backed up by scientific research.

According to a NY Times investigative piece, gangs contributed to 61% of the shootings in Chicago in 2013. Although this number is down from previous years, the percentage of homicides contributed to Chicago gang members has hovered around this 61% number since 2012. Noah’s campaign is serious about ending violence in Chicago. These numbers suggest that the best way to do this is by targeting prominent gang members (Lil Durk) and trying to get these people to buy into his anti-violence cause.

However, does Joakim Noah really want to get involved in the dangerous web of inner-city gang alliances? Will his collaboration with Agina who was the former manager for Lil Durke ( a confirmed member of the Black Disciples street gang) be interpreted as a sign of loyalty by rival gang factions? Does Noah really want to be enlisting rival gangs to his cause after collaborating with a member of Lil Durke’s posse? Is Joakim Noah’s safety at risk if he continues his anti-violence campaign in Chicago?

Mar 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Injured Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah holds a ball during a time out during the second half of the NBA game between Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets at United Center. Bulls won 98-86. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Joakim Noah’s willingness to take extreme measures to make a difference is admirable. If he continues to collaborate with gang members he risks the possibility of exposing himself to gang rivalry which puts his safety in jeopardy.

Noah’s commitment to the city of Chicago transcends his concern for his own safety. Ultimately, on-court accomplishments will fade away and be forgotten. However, the difference he is making in Chicago will last forever, and that is how he will be remembered. His legacy will consist of philanthropist first and basketball player second. His willingness to put his own safety on the line makes him stand out among all the rest.

Noah has always been absolute in his resolve. He is going to put himself in danger to accomplish his goals for the city. Let’s pray for his safety and the safety for all those who run the risk of being impacted by violence in Chicago.

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