Raised in a War Zone
by Freddie Dupree

D-town was murdered in October of 2006 but to this town he is just a number. Since I was born in 1991 there have been 1,648 people murdered in Oakland, what we call town business. Too many people have died since I was born. 1995 had the most murders in Oakland in 40 years hitting153. So we were all born into a hateful world.

In 2006 there have been 44 more murders then last year. Oakland has turned into a killing zone. Oakland is getting to the point where people in there community feel like to have to carry a gun on their waist. We need more jobs in the community and better schools. Maybe then we’ll start seeing some peace.