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| Chicago's Edgewater Beach. Photo: Alanscottwalker. |
The law-abiding residents of Edgewater, a north side Chicago neighborhood, are fed up.
Within the last few weeks, three women were robbed at gunpoint. As a result, police presence in the area has increased; prompting at least one African-American woman to claim that her son is being racially profiled.
On August 24, 2010, a group of Edgewater residents gathered on the corner of Lakewood and Rosemont to protest the recent crimes in their neighborhood. Present were 30 to 40 citizens and Police Commander, Michael Wick.
Kathy Hayes, an African-American resident of Edgewater, told the crowd that her son had been stopped and handcuffed, because officers said he fit the description of a suspect in the area. Hayes said her son did not fit the description (I have no idea how she knew what the description was), and felt he was being racially profiled.
A vocal neighbor challenged Hayes’ assertions by pointing out that her son dresses like a thug with his pants hanging off his butt, and was seen loitering in an alley.
Commander Wick told Hayes he was sorry her son fit the description (Don't you just love sarcasm?), and said his officers were only trying to do their job.
I certainly feel for the residents of Edgewater. Other north side communities, like Uptown, are facing the same uptick in crime. And as politically incorrect as it may be, the majority of the offenders are young, African-American men. So, here's my question: If a specific group has been identified as the troublemakers, why is it wrong for the police to target them? How are the police supposed to do their job, if they are being told to ignore the obvious?
As someone who has lived in Edgewater my entire life, and currently lives over by the problem area around Thorndale (where the issue isn't just robberies but shootings), something needs to be done. If that means some mother gets her nose bent out of shape, it is far better then someone dying.
ReplyDeleteIf the police have identified a group as troublemakers and someone fits that description, then yes the Police should take a look at them. It isn't like there are group membership lists that they can check against.
I see "kids" like this all of the time loitering and being a nuisance. I've also seen some of these same gets get busted by the cops.
That mother should spend more time on why her son was loitering in an area that has been a problem for awhile, and is getting worse, then trying to make the cops jobs harder then it already is.
Stupid bimbo, they are always whining, if she would keep her kid in the house, or doing something productive, instead of loitering, maybe he wouldn't be picked up by the cops!
ReplyDeleteI'm sick of these dim witted dolts crying racism every time you look at them cross-eyed. She probably just wants to sue the city.
There aren't easy answers to some of the problems associated with this issue.
ReplyDeleteBut, I think we can all agree that erring on the side of caution would be appropriate. Should we let the "saggers" stroll around untouched, always? Really?
The cops don't have the right to harass everyone wearing baggy pants. Baggy pants don't make you a criminal. No matter how stupid you look in them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the mother. This is just another way for cops to target black men.
Target people who wear "baggy pants": no
ReplyDeleteTarget people who fit the EXACT description: yes.
Look, I know it's not fair, but if the only description a victim can give is that the suspect was black, wore a big white t-shirt and baggy pants, then guess who's going to be stopped? And, no it's not "racial profiling" to stop guys who fit that description. Hell, I've been stopped by cops walking down the street and I don't wear baggy pants, etc. Maybe it was racial profiling, maybe it wasn't. But the way to avoid "profiling" is not to fit the profile, i.e. hang out in alleys late at night doing ...nothing. yes, everyone has the right to hang out in an alley, but having the right doesn't mean it's a wise thing. The mother seems to be sure her son was "profiled" only because he was black and was stopped by the cops, which to me is profilining in itself. There are definitely times when profiling happens. Not sure if this was one of them.
I don't know if you guys are aware of this, but those white t-shirts and baggy blue jeans are a gang uniform. They wear the same clothes (colors and styles) to confuse witnesses and cops. They used to wear the same colors in order to recognize other members, but they got wise. Now it's about not being able to properly identify them.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that I use to be able to walk from Sheridan to Broadway without constantly watching over my shoulder. NOW I have to be afraid of being killed???? SOMETHING has to be done. For the past 2 years I see more and more groups just hanging on corners,blocking the sidewalks so people can't even walk by. They are not even talking to each other, they are on their cell phones and looking around. Don't tell me their not scoping out the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI'm not color blind; IT IS ALWAYS a group of black young men in white tee-shirts and jeans with their phone ear pieces in. Whatever happened to hanging out at home, playing ball, joining the "Y"?
For the mother who's son is "innocent". I would say with all the problems going on in the neighborhood her son should avoid fitting into that "profile".
Peace to you all and OUR neighborhood.
May God protect our police force as they serve and protect. We must work together to resolve all issues.
Is this an issue because more Section 8 residents are moving into the area? With the downturn in economy are lanlords more willing to rent out their units to undesirables who have a voucher in hand? This has really become an issue in the past 2 years. As a resident in the area I'm sick of it. And yes, it's always the same type of people hanging around causing trouble. It's not profiling if it's a fact.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I left the area - the crime was going nuts and the white residents are actively trying to ethnically cleanse the area rather than actually solving the problem - check out the other edgewater blogs. I moved to a mostly black area and there is less tagging and little crime, certainly no murders or attacks.
ReplyDeleteThe police have a hard enough job, without having to worry about who they question. I would rather them question all the pople they have to in order to keep the area safe. If you are not doing anything wrong and have nothing to hide, it won't be an issue. Sad part is I have heard of only a few times where the people being looked for are not black, and in gang attire. Sad that people think its racism when the proof is there about who is commiting the crimes in this area. And yea I'm smart enough to know that peoplem other than black people commit crimes, but lately......
ReplyDelete