MILWAUKEE — The City of Milwaukee is grappling with multiple shootings that took place over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The violence is prompting community organizations such as Running Rebels Youth Organization to take action.

Running Rebels has worked to stay engaged with the Milwaukee community for more than 43 years. It particularly aims to provide support, safe spaces and guidance to young people.

During the summer, when kids are off school, Running Rebels’ co-executive director, Dawn Barnett, said the organization’s efforts are even more important. However, the recent spotlight on young people involved in violence isn’t a surprise, Barnett said.

“It’s been culminating for years,” said Barnett. “It’s why we’re here. It’s why there are so many people in the community who are doing what they do. All people see on the news are the actors that are doing it, right? What they don’t see is all the young people.”

During a time when violence seems to overshadow the joy that should accompany youth, 15-year-old Jaide Malone finds guidance and support at Running Rebels.

“It should never take this much violence and this many people getting killed when we are supposed to be having fun,” said Malone. “We are youth. We are young. It really should never be this much violence. Nobody’s lives should be taken… We should all really calm down… Put the guns down.”

To combat the recent violence, the Milwaukee Police Department has implemented Operation Summer Guardian. The program is a targeted initiative that focuses on stopping gun violence across 27 neighborhoods in the city. As part of this initiative, parents and guardians will be cited if their child is found out past curfew.

“It’s tough,” said Barnett. “That’s tough for me because I see parents who are straight up negligent and I see parents who are trying their best to do what they can do, and how does the process differentiate between the two?”

“How do you differentiate between a single parent that has to work multiple jobs who is trying everything they can to keep their young person safe and engaged compared to somebody that isn’t involved or isn’t caring about it? How do you gage that to make sure that the punishment is actually targeting what you want it to target?” she added.

But there’s something the MPD program and  Running Rebels said they see eye-to-eye on: Everyone is needed to end the violence.

“Because this is going to take all of us,” said Barnett. “Not one church. Not one community organization. All of us to be able to work together with police, with community stakeholders… really fighting together.”