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to End Drug War Injustice |
December 17, 2009 -- New Haven Independent (CT)Blame The Dads? Or The Drug War?by Melinda Tuhus |
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Original: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/12/about_150_commu.php
Those were two of the targets as black leaders and activists filled a City Hall hearing to address ongoing gun violence.
Eleven of 13 murders in New Haven this year had black male victims, all shot to death. Crime is down citywide, while both fatal and non-fatal shootings have spiked in the black community.
Some 150 people wrestled at a Board of Aldermen hearing Wednesday with the question of why that's happening. Here are four theories speakers advanced:
"Given the nexus between gun violence and the illegal drug trade," moderator Jefferson asked, "should our community at the very least begin a serious discussion about the legalization of drugs?"
He directed the question to Barbara Fair, a community activist around criminal justice issues, who had a ready answer.
Fair (pictured) said the drug war has been going on for 40 years -- and drugs are more available, cheaper and more potent than ever. She argued that the black community has been targeted for prosecution. She cited surveys showing about equal drug use between blacks and whites, even though proportionately far more blacks get locked up for drug crimes.
"We should be having a conversation about ending the drug war altogether," Fair said. "And let's give resources to the people who are strung out on drugs and need help, let's get them the help. Instead of investing in prisons for people using drugs, let's invest in treatment centers."
"How in the world can we expect the community to come together at the bottom level if we as leadership can not even unify together?" thundered Pastor John Lewis of Life-Centered Ministries on Whalley Avenue.
"Our government -- and that includes the mayor and the Board of Aldermen -- have failed to recognize the problem that has caused the gun violence, that has caused the drop outs of our kids, that has caused the despair in our neighborhoods," said former Mayor John Daniels (pictured). "And that is poverty."
At that, Michael Jefferson (pictured), the event's moderator, interjected, "Mayor Daniels, with all due respect, what was your response to the violence that plagued our communities when you served two terms in City Hall?"
"I instituted community-based policing," Daniels shot back. "I got the police officers in the neighborhoods. And you know what? Our neighborhoods were safe."
State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield (pictured) returned over and over to the idea that unless the black community organizes for political power, it will be ignored.
"If you choose not to organize," he said, "you might as well go home. That's just the honest truth. What we need to do is have people creating policy who understand what they're dealing with, and most people who are creating policy have not been in these communities.They have not studied these issues," he said, to applause.
His view was seconded during the audience participation part of the meeting by Westville activists Lashell Rountree. She pointed out the low voting percentages in black neighborhoods in the last election (in which she ran unsuccessfully for alderwoman).
"Keep staying home," she advised, if you don't want to see things change for the better.
Police Officer Shafiq Abdussabur (pictured) said the community needs to look to itself -- and especially to the absent fathers. He has run programs for at-risk teens for the past decade.
"Without an active father in the lives of a child -- that is more impacting than anything. The father that is there, the father that is talking to that kid, the father who's spending time with that child" could make a huge difference, Abdussabur said. "We have to become surrogate fathers. The fathers got to get on their game. I don't care if he's in jail. I don't care if he's going to jail. Whatever you're doing, get in touch with your child, because that's where it begins."
The Brotherhood Leadership Summit helped organize the forum.
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