I’m not interested in going toe to toe with you, I think reasonable people will work out these questions for themselves.

The argument that I’m trying to make is that gang members are human beings–and like all of us are full of flaws and possibilities. Much of the conversation around gangs that assumes their criminality and compares them to things like “cancer” seems to me to demean their human dignity. Am I saying that all gangs members are working for the betterment of their communities? No. But I am trying to make the case that we should remain open to that possibility; particularly when there are folks like Jorge Cornell who are trying to call for peace, unity and an end to racism.

If there is going to be real change on the streets, it is going to have to come from the people who are there day in and day out thinking, deciding, and acting together–not from politicians in Raleigh or downtown Greensboro. Let’s give Jorge and others room to do their work.

Gangs certainly is a contested term: some people use it to mean a criminal network, some use it to mean (fearfully) young men of color, and some use it to mean a group of friends. The legislation proposed in the state legislature assumes that any group of three or more “suspicious looking” young people wearing colors is a gang.

The reality is, humans are social creatures. They associate with each other in many different ways. Some of those forms are legitimized by the power structure–chamber of commerce, citizens councils, congregations–and some are not. While there are some groups, associations, and gangs that are violent and destructive (like the Bush gang in the White House with nearly 100,000 civilians killed in Iraq) there are others who are working for the betterment of their communities.

Let’s give Jorge and his friends a chance to do the work that they intend to do. Our responsibility is to come alongside them and support their work, not assume guilt by association.

The only way we need to reach out to gang members is a one way ticket out of town (deportation). Jorge sounds like the proverbial fox complaining that the farmer is unfair because the chicken coop is locked. Gangs=Crime! not peace!

GREENSBORO, NC – (May 12, 2008) – An investigation by the Greensboro Police Department into allegations that boxes of files related to the Klan-Nazi shootings on Nov. 3, 1979, has found no evidence of wrongdoing by the Police Department.
Police Chief Tim Bellamy said today that the investigation by the GPD’s Professional Standards Division found that five to 10 boxes of newspaper clippings had been disposed of in late 2001 or early 2002, during former Chief Robert White’s administration. The boxes contained newspaper clippings related to the Klan-Nazi shootings, as well as clippings related to other subversive groups. The boxes did not contain any Police files related to the shootings.
During the course of the internal inquiry, a box of the clippings were brought forward to the Professional Standards Division, and the contents were examined by the investigators and Chief Bellamy. The remaining box contained only newspaper clippings that addressed a variety of topics related to subversive groups, Bellamy said.
In late February, the Revs. Cardes Brown, Gregory Headen and Nelson Johnson said a police officer had come to them with concerns that 50 boxes of files related to the Klan-Nazi shootings had been destroyed at the direction of Lt. Craig McMinn.
However, the investigation showed that Lt. McMinn followed all the proper state and departmental procedures, Bellamy said.
State laws address the retention of public records and require that records in felony cases be kept for 20 years. Other types of records are required to be kept for shorter periods of time. Under State law, all files related to the Klan-Nazi shootings could have legally been destroyed in 1999.
In 2005, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission requested records related to the shootings, and the City provided 49 volumes of all related police records. The GPD continues to keep all of those files in a secured location, Bellamy said.
-more-

News Release: Investigation Finds GPD Officer Follows Laws
Page 2
May 12, 2008

“We would like to thank the ministers for bringing this matter to our attention,” he said. “The Greensboro Police Department continually strives to be an organization of excellence, and we always welcome the input of the public to help us achieve that goal.”