There was another wave of misguided efforts to "work with" gangs in the early 1990's. Some of us remember the heralded "gang truce" of 1992-1993. That was around the same time that Larry Hoover announced (from prison) that the "GD" in "Gangster Disciple" would instead stand for "Growth and Development"...
Plenty of people bought into the scam: Hoover orchestrated a public relations effort to get himself paroled, and college professors spoke on his behalf. The media gave plenty of coverage to efforts by characters like Wallace "Gator" Bradley, who helped organize a "National Gang Peace Summit" in Chicago in November 1993. High-profile leaders like Rev. Jesse Jackson, Benjamin Chavis and Rev. Louis Farrakhan attended; Rev. Jackson told the assembled gang members that they represented "the new frontier of the civil rights struggle."
The violence and killing never stopped.
I worry that Chicagoans have forgotten what a pointless exercise talking and "sitting down" with gang leaders is; my fears are confirmed as I see that we're heading down that same stupid path again thanks to Superintendent Weis' August 17 meeting.
Witness this post in ChicagoNow's And the Ordinary People Said blog:
Blogger/activist Mark Allen characterizes the meeting as an "ambush" of "alleged" gang leaders. He drags out Wallace "Gator" Bradley as a peacemaker, and then posts a copy of a press release from some group calling itself "Tha Movement". The press release is signed at the bottom by a character named Jim Allen who is the "Free and Accepted Almighty Minister, Vice Lords Nation." Mr. Miller sees Weis' plans as "nothing but a ploy for the Irish Mafia to gain back control of Chicago's Underworld!"
The absurdity of street gang members acting as aggrieved parties, professing they want to "stop the violence", while quoting the US Constitution, boggles the mind.
At this point, why shouldn't the Vice Lords, or any other street gang, hold a press conference? They've been put front and center thanks to Weis' recent meeting, or summit, or ultimatum delivery or whatever it was. They have been made equal partners, entitled to their share of the public policy stage. Now all that's left is to cue up the calliope music and wait for the circus to start.*Note: according to "Tha Movement" you may disregard anything I have to say on this topic. As a cop with an Irish last name, I am part of what "Tha Movement" refers to on their website as the "Irish Mafia and their Hamberg Athletic Association children."
6 Comments
Moshucat said:
These Urban Terrorist were scum 20 and 30 years ago and still are. How dare they be offended. They offended, terrorized and degraded us many years ago and here they are resurfacing. They are in total denial and don't feel responsible for their legacy. They set the example and it was followed now it a Rag Tag bunch. It may be now because the Bradley's, Hoovers and Forts are too old to control anything anymore. Now we are stuck with these minuture Urban Terrorist that have no repsect and are gutless cowards who shoot from ambush and can't even shoot straight. Leave town, go somewhere else and try to be somebody because here in Chi your are nothing but liars and cheats.
Jim Breeling said:
Second City couldn't do better at Urban Comedy--or should it be theater of the absurd? Negotiating with street punks? Why not negotiate with burglars to ask to please not steal so much? The street punks can hardly have done better had they hired a public relations consultant. They are now media stars.
Mr. Brown Thumb said:
Call me crazy, but if you're a gang leader isn't the last place you want to be in front of cameras and the press? Seems like you'd be trying to keep a low profile or putting up a front like the mob does.
Marksallen said:
Now HOW do we assess the International "Peace" meeting at The White House with President Obama and Hillary Clinton with people who have labled each other as "terrorists" and responsible for thousands of innocent people dying from their clashes -- HOW can they sit face-to-face with thse leaders on an international level but we cannot do the same on a local level??
Moshucat said:
Beecause our wounds have not healed. This is not an International problem this is a problem in the hood here and Obama nor Clinton are going to come her and do anything about it.
Wendy C said:
Sure, you're going to stop gang violence by giving their leaders a stage. Now Weis has opened his mouth, he better be able to back up his statements, catch these killers and hold them and their leaders accountable. If not...
This is an extremely foolish and risky attempt to put on a publicity stunt.
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