TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF HAL BASK1N
WHEREAS, In His infinite wisdom, almighty God has granted eternal peace on August 10, 2018 to Hal Baskin, an icon of his community and legendary anti-violence activist; and
WHEREAS, Baskin started life in Mississippi as one of a family of ten boys and four girls whose mother brought them to this city in the 1960s and put down roots in the South Side community of Englewood. Like many young men of that community, he was drawn into gang life. He renounced it at the age of 19, eventually turning his life around by founding People Educated Against Crime in Englewood (P.E.A.C.E.). His history as a former gang member that allowed him and his organization to broker truces among gang leaders; and
WHEREAS, along with volunteers, Hal Baskin would spend nights walking the streets and alleys of Englewood to help maintain the peace. Many times, he would finish in the early morning hours by meeting with advisors to discuss methods of preventing further violence and seek funds to enroll youths into GED programs and help them find jobs; and
WHEREAS, as a teenager, Baskin met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when the civil rights leader visited Chicago and was there on August of 1966, when Dr. King led the historic march in Marquette Park to protest against housing discrimination. He was in attendance at Christ United Methodist Church when controversial and influential African American leaders spoke such as Fred Hampton and Malcolm X.; and
WHEREAS, Baskin suffered personal loss as a result of this city's violence. His brother, nephew and great-nephew lost their lives in shootings. His own son was shot and wounded in 2013. Despite such losses, he remained committed to peaceful prevention of violence in Englewood, using his own life as an example for young people; and
WHEREAS, For more than two decades, Hal Baskin continued his advocacy for the Englewood community, fighting against school closures and mentoring youth. The Honorable Bobby Rush, the Illi...
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