[INDEX |
NATIONAL
|
WORLD
|
PERSPECTIVE
|
COLUMNS
|
MONEY
|
ENTERTAINMENT
|
HEALTH
|
TECH
|
LETTERS
|
SUBSCRIBE]
FinalCall.com News
National News
Bloods and Crips:‘Help us as we help ourselves’
By Corey Muhammad
Updated Jun 29, 2004 - 2:55:00 PM
NEWARK (FinalCall.com) - As she witnessed the signing of the peace treaty between rival gangs here May 22, 2004, Newark Public Schools Superintendent Marion Bolden vowed she would do what she could to help the Bloods and Crips live up to the integrity of the truce. Her inspiration that night led her to decide that she would change the line-up of her already scheduled program for "Keep The Summer Safe" for the city’s youth, and place the focus on the gang members and their historic truce.
The June 17 event at Symphony Hall brought out members of Saving Our Selves (SOS), a new gang intervention and prevention organization formed by Bloods and Crips, who pleaded for jobs and assistance in turning around their lives.
"A lot of people have given up on our generation, but we’re not giving up on ourselves," said SOS founding member Face.
While admitting that a low turnout was disappointing, Ms. Bolden managed to put a positive spin on the event, which was attended by educators, businesspersons, civic, political and religious leaders and mostly public school students.
"I could’ve had the place full and they’re listeners and not doers. If I’ve got the doers here, then we made a major step forward," she said.
One of the conditions of the treaty was a vow by gang members to "put forth an effort to become educated, computer-literate and to learn a trade." During the Newark program, they tried to fulfill that pledge by calling on those in positions to help give them a chance by supplying jobs and training. One member, who identified himself only as Terrell, had a stark warning for the audience.
"You all better work with us," he said. "You all better give us some help, because seven years from now the schools won’t be schools. They’ll have U.S. Army personnel in them."
Terrell’s sentiments were echoed by at least one youngster in the audience. Eighth grader Rashan Vines admitted he did not know of any gangs at his Peshine Avenue School, but the level of gang activity where he lives is a point of concern.
"I have siblings and I don’t want them to grow up and look at people and then they want to be the same way they are," he said. "It’s responsible for brothers like that to come out and talk to the community like they did."
Declaring that he "came to set the record straight," Minister Michael Muhammad, of Muhammad’s Mosque No. 25, said he wanted the credit for the truce to be placed where it belongs.
"Many who had nothing to do with that effort are attempting to posture themselves to assume some of the credit," he said. "They themselvesèBlood, CripèBlack brother and Black brother, decided that enough was enough. They drew up the contract, they called the meeting," he added.
Despite the immediate effect from the treaty on the city and the general support from residents, many politicians have been silent about the truce and its impact. As he thanked councilpersons Charles Bell and Bessie Walker for their defense of the gang members in the face of ongoing police harassment, Min. Michael demanded that other politicians and Mayor Sharpe James speak up on the issue.
"The mayor of this city needs to raise his voice on this issue because these men have done something that will save this city."
The deputy mayor of Newark, who has been an integral part of the peace process, offered a defense for his boss in response. "He may feel he’s not ready to come out and support what’s happening yet," Ras Baraka said. "He has been supportive financially; bringing the brothers out here; of us going out there; of giving us the time and the resources to pull together the gang intervention work we’ve been doing and the treaty work."
Councilman Bell, who has worked to find jobs for many gang members, told the audience of what may be considered a police raid on the Baxter Terrace Houses two nights prior to the Symphony Hall event. The housing project is well-known as a place where many gang members reside.
According to the councilman, about 30 New Jersey State troopers, in concert with local police officers, swarmed the area, and lined up and detained gang members on the grounds that they were serving outstanding warrants that dated as far back as 2001. The raid resulted in five arrests. Mr. Bell called the action suspicious.
"It was a means of intimidation and harassment of these young men for what they are trying to do," he contends.
None of the uniformed officers in attendance at the event wanted to comment on police actions.
In light of the harassment by the Newark police, a former gang member from the West Coast traveled to Newark for the event to offer his insights on dealing with the problem.
The Baxter Terrace incident was "not an accident," Aqeela Sherrills said. Mr. Sherrills, who helped to broker a truce between Bloods and Crips 12 years ago in Los Angeles, offered that it was in the best interest of the police to have gang violence because it is a means of job security. He also suggested that the school system should allow the gangs to speak on campus to help eliminate many of their problems, and that pro bono legal support was also needed in light of the increased police harassment.
The responsibility for redirecting gang members’ activities must now be shared by all aspects of the city says Councilman-at-large Bessie Walker. "The resources that they say that they need, we need to bring them to the table to help," she said.
