Outcry Against Violence

Beating Death of Student in Chicago Spurs Attention to a Nationwide Problem

In the wake of the videotaped beating death of a Chicago high school student, law-enforcement officials and educators called this week for renewed efforts to stem youth violence. But they also acknowledged that money and programs alone won’t solve the problem.

U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan traveled to Chicago on Oct. 7, at President Barack Obama’s request, to meet with city and school officials and pledge federal help in addressing a continuing wave of killings that claimed the lives of 34 Chicago students last school year.

Mr. Duncan announced a $500,000 grant to help Christian Fenger Academy High School, which the beating victim attended, and its feeder elementary and middle schools get back on their feet. The money is from a federal program called Project SERV, for School...