Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 August 1997 — Page 22

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SATURDAY, AUGUST 0,1997

Cross burnings and the like require a response

By Ken Morgan Special to the NNPA On a recent summer evening a five by eight foot cross was burned on a field not far from where I live in Baltimore, Md. This is not surprising since skin head and KKK recruiting and activity have roots in Remington where the cross burning took place, as well as in adjacent Hampden. For a while now, white working class Remington residents have felt imposed upon and hemmed in, as their part of town has changed complexion. Ironically, they have a lot in common with the Blacks moving into the

area.

Many of them are becoming more marginalized as the hammer of economic and social oppression pulverizes their lives. Even before Blacks began moving into this former white enclave, the cops treated “poor white trash” (marginalized working class whites) like n rs. Police brutality and harassment, especially among the youth is prevalent. A community survival center and food cooperative, models of the Black Panther community programs, has long been a part of life in Remington. In 1976, imprisoned Black Panther member Eddie Conway gave the idea to a white supporter and

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community activist living in the town. He and other community members have kept it going for 21 years. Much of the anti-Klan, anti-skin head and anti-police brutality work in that community has been done by this core group of people. In this community though, the drug market is an equal opportunity experience. Local community suppliers and addicts are both white and Black. This entrepreneurial enterprise has claimed former KKK and skin head recruits as well as other young people, sucked up in the illegal market, community sources say. So what has been the official response to the cross burning? The police investigated for a hot minute; about as long as it took to douse the flames. It closed the case in less than a week, calling it a prank and an isolated incident. This is the same police force that stood behind a cop who shot a 14-year-old youth in the back, justifying the act by saying that the killer cop feared for this life. As for the politicians, they have remained mum. This, though in Baltimore, 62 percent of the state has many Black legislators and, the Black and working class vote put the governor in office and heavily supported the state’s two U.S. senators.

Meanwhile, the media, for its part has been self-gagged. But cross bunring can never be ignored. It is never a prank. It is a big deal - a political statement. It cannot be dismissed whether in Tupelo, Miss, or New York City. It requires a call to action. The KKK has used cross burnings to terrorize and intimidate Black people and to divide Blacks and whites for 131 years. Scapegoating and intimidatior by groups like the KKK, skin heads, and militia groups are more common as economic and social conditions worsen. They blame Blacks, Jews, immigrants and gays for our deteriorating economic and social conditions. After the incident, some residents, including Black youth, local ministers, socialist organizations, the local N.A.A.C.P., white working class youth and community activists, quickly organized a speak-out near the site of the cross burning, demanding that police reopen the case. The message: Cross burnings are unwelcome anywhere in Baltimore! They will not be tolerated! We are resolved that we will not be divided by racism, bigotry and scapegoating, people have a right to live anywhere they want.

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