At Hearing, Youths Express Fear of Violence, Call for More Programs

The youths said that the trouble with Fifth and O started long before they were involved but that until recently, they never questioned it, even when it affected their families.

Forrest's grandmother, who raised him, lived two blocks from a grocery store in the neighborhood, but there was so much violence on her street that she refused to go. "Grandma lived in the middle of everything," he said.

The youths said young people often lack positive male role models. None of the four youths from Seventh and O grew up with a father -- two were claimed by street violence, one never knew his son and one died of a heart attack.

"None of us have a father, but we all need that man to talk to," said DeAngelo Edwards, 17, who dropped out of 11th grade but is back in school. "I got caught up in that beef. What we need is love, tough love."

Forrest, who spent four years in prison for an armed robbery, said he has had trouble finding a job. He has applied for about 20 positions. He was called back for three interviews at a coffee shop: "They sat me down and said, 'The only thing that's holding you back is you have a felony,' " he recalled.

The youths said even though they think they are facing many obstacles, they are determined to earn money legally.

"There's millions of ways to make money in America," Martin said. "You don't have to be out on the corner selling drugs."