The rate at which Americans kill each other soared by the biggest percentage increase in history. (NY Times)

The murder rate in America has declined precipitously since the peaks in the late 80s and early 90s when the crack cocaine epidemic was ripping through American cities. Tragically, there seems to be a correlation between the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent surge in homicides. Cities across America, and especially urban areas in the industrial Midwest, have been hardest with the most sever spikes in violence. As cities try to dig out of the complete mess that Covid has caused to society, special attention needs to be paid to bringing communities together and finding ways to end the violence.