is the ultimate diss because once you get that label
on you. You have no rights and mama can’t save
you*******
According to the bill a "criminal street gang" is
defined as:
"any ongoing organization, association, or group of
three or more persons, whether formal or informal,
which engages in a pattern of criminal gang activity
as defined in subdivision (2) of this section. The
existence of the organization, association, or group
of individuals associated in fact may be established
by evidence of a common name or common identifying
signs, symbols, tattoos, graffiti, or attire or other
distinguishing characteristics."
Translation: Anyone who dresses like the rapper lil
Wayne.
white folks don't know how it feels to be
stereotyped. I still have a not so fond memory of
while attending a summer high school honors program,
standing at a bus stop dressed in my freshest 1984 Hip
Hop gear only to have a Winston Salem bus driver
decide that his half full vehicle suddenly ran out of
room and slam the door in my face.
Also according to the bill "criminal street gang
activity" is a:
"Pattern of criminal gang activity" means the
commission, attempted commission, conspiracy to
commit, or solicitation, coercion, or intimidation of
another person to commit at least two of " a whole
bunch of offences."
I'm not quite sure how you enforce "attempt and
conspiracy to commit a crime."
Maybe I should turn myself in now for that cup of
coffee I was thinking about swiping from the counter
at EZ Mart last week.
Lastly, the bill calls for the heavy prosecution of 12
year olds. I've met some rotten little brats in my day
but I wouldn't really consider a 6th grader another Al
Capone.
The companion bill Senate Bill 1358 is only slightly
more politically correct.
Yes Virginia, there are real gangs in the Bull City
and it is not a utopia. But Durham ain't Compton
either with its generations of gangsterism. This isn’t
an overly crowded city and the same kid who is P-Rock
on Saturday night is Lil Pookie who sings in the youth
choir on Sunday morning.
In other words..It aint' that deep.
We have not reached the point yet when we should
consider performing social retro abortions on twelve
year old kids.
Already they are developing projected budgets based on
the new residents that will be headed to Hotel
Hoodlum. The prison industry is big business and who
am I to knock the hustle. So if your no good, lazy
cousin in Alabama is looking for a good paying job, he
might want to hop the next Greyhound to North
Carolina.
The bottom line is in 2007, we should be able to come
together and think of more innovative solutions to
saving our children than the usual lock em up and
throw away the key.
And that ain't just whistlin' Dixie...
Min. Paul Scott is a writer and activist based in
Durham NC. His blog is
http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
To reach him contact (919) 451-8283
info@nowarningshotsfired.com
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
