Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 July 2002 — Page 10

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JULY 19,2002

EDITORIAL It is chilling to discover not everyone wants peace in their life and if they can't have it, they don't want you to either... ...There is an element of pure evil I find myself amidst. Treasure human life

The lack of reverence some people possess for human life makes me want to holler. To know two young women were shot to death last Friday in the hallway of the city's Phoenix Housing complex in the Meadows neighborhood is mind-boggling. It’s mind-boggling because eyewitnesses to the horrific tragedy say 22-year-old Nakia Walker and 17-year-old Kameisha Sumblett were allegedly gunned down over a dispute in vol ving a car

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Not an act of war, not an act of self defense, but an act of vengeance police say 16-year-old Jeff Grigsby made because he was angry about a car stereo, a material possession that can be replaced at Best Buy or Wal-Mart for about $150 — unlike pre-

cious human life.

It’s not that I have not heard about senseless acts of violence ‘ before. Lord knows there are many news accounts of people dying over such simple things like money, property, gym shoes, or simply because they wanted to wear the color blue or red—colors some criminal gangs deem their own, exclusively for members in their “posse” or “clique.” However, this latest incident comes just a few weeks after finding out a distant associate I knew was found dead in his apartment. He was also a young man in his early 20s and while police are investigating the mysterious circumstances of his death, which is a confirmed homicide, I find myself confronted

with a harsh reality.

It is chilling to discover not everyone wants peace in their life and if they can’t have it in their life, they don’t want you to have

it either.

There is an element of pure evil I find myself amidst. Random acts of violence are coming closer and closer to home. I never thought I would have a conversation with a gentleman one day and find out two weeks later he was dead at the hands of another over what appears to be over some silly mess. (I say mess because that’s just what it is) I can relate to some of the people who knew Nakia Walker and Kameisha Sumblett. This isn’t how life is supposed to tum out for people we know and love, they are not supposed to die so young and brutally. Because of my faith and belief in a Supreme Being, I find assurance that one has to be thankful in all things because that which is grotesque, tragic, painful and emotionally disturbing can also serve as a powerful teaching tool, prodding us to grow deeper spiritually. Discovering some of the world’s evil ways does not frighten me, because I refuse to live in fear. The discovery does make me more aware that there are forces that are out to destroy, IF given an opportunity. It makes me appreciate what really matters in this journey we call life and that is the quality of service and level of contribution we give to our family, friends, loved-ones and community. My heart goes out to the family, friends and associates of both Nakia Walker, Kameisha Sumblett and even Jeff Grigsby, the alleged gunman who took their lives because he will have to carry the emotional debt of his alleged actions. Grigsby’s lack of reverence for human life helps me to treasure and not take for granted my own and the others I interact with.

Indianapolis Police at the Edgemere Apartment complex in the Meadows nai^txxtaocl the crime scene where 22-year-old Nakia Walker and 17-year-old Kameisha Sumblett

gunned down. (photo/C. Guynn)

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Time to discuss critical AfricanAmerican community Issues

(Part 2) This Black Expo week, this column continues its discussion of serious issues I feel are impacting Indianapolis’ African-American community. I again welcome your responses, opinions, criticism or ideas to The Recorder, 2901 N. Tacoma, Indianapolis46218, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Time To Return to Ministerial Activism. This past Monday ’ s visit by Rev. Al Sharpton reminded me that Indianapolis’ AfricanAmerican community was once blessed with religious leaders who preached a ministry of social justice, not just to their congregations, but to the overall community. Following Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s example, clergy like Dr. Andrew J. Brown, Rev. R.T. Andrews, Rev. Mozel Sanders, Rev. Arthur Johnson, Rev. Wayne T. Harris gave their lives to the struggle; using the pulpit and picket line to achieve equality and justice for Blacks. But where are the Browns, Sanders and Harris of today? Why aren ’t today’s Black ministers in Indianapolis speaking out? Why are they seemingly showing no leadership? Except for periodic efforts by Elder Lionel Rush, Black ministers in Indianapolis are abnormally quiet and quiescent. While many Black churches are doing good works, it still seems to many that the Black church in Indianapolis, including Indy’s Black megachurches with their tens of thousands of members, are mute in addressing the many critical issues facing our community. There’s not a Black community in America that didn’t make

progress without the full, enthusiastic support and leadership from that community’s Black clergy. Indianapolis’ Black community will never confront and solver the many problems facing us, unless and until the Black church and our ministers emerge from the shadows and stand in the light of providing visible leadership. The Jesus I believe in wouldn’t just be in his church office or out driving his $50,000 car. He’d be in our neighborhoods working with our people in solving their problems. Is the leadership of Indy’s Black churches ready to follow his example? Time For Blacks To Demand More Affordable Housing. One of the silent sins of Indianapolis is the deplorable lack of affordable housing for its residents. The 2000 Census reports that nearly one-in-five Indianapolis households pay more than 35 percent of their income on housing; among renters that number is over one-in-four. When detailed data is released late this summer, I predict we’U learn that an even larger percentage of African-American households and renters pay a disproportionate amount of their monthly income on rent or mortgages. If you earn less than $30,000 a year and have a family with children, finding affordable two, three

and four bedroom housing in Indianapolis is a major struggle. Add to that the venality and racism of some landlords and you have Black families turning into rental nomads. The lack of stable, affordable housing affects a family’s peace of mind. It impacts the ability of children to excel in school. Affordable housing is a critical, important issue for Blacks, yet, with few exceptions, Black clergy and leadership are silent on this issue. Mayor Bart Peterson has talked a good game about increasing affordable housing. But if he’s working on it, our Black community, especially those families struggling to find a stable, affordable places to live, aren’t hearing about and don’t see the fruits of the mayor’s efforts. Affordable housing is a civil right. It must be a major focus of the attention and activism of Indianapolis’ Black leadership—now! Time To Face The Crisis at Black Arts Institutions. The recent Freetown Village crisis illuminated a distressing fact. In an African-American community with aggregate income exceeding $3 billion; our Black arts institutions are becoming an endangered species. Latest concern: The Madame Walker Urban Life Center is in dire financial shape. If help doesn’t arrive soon, the Walker could be shuttered. Other Black cultural and arts groups are starving for funding. Yet, our Black community sits silent and inert. We don’t support our Black arts/cultural institutions and organizations with our time, money or patronage. At the same time, our Black community and its leadership isn’t vociferously demanding that Indianapolis’ major businesses and corporations, (who receive nearly a billion in revenue from Black people), increase the financial support to our Black arts, cultural and non-profit institutions. If something isn’t done very soon, within five years, there could be no Black-run aits and cultural organizations in America’s 16th largest African-American community. Time We Demand Our Fair Share of Indianapolis’ Bounty. The white power structure of Indianapolis is playing an interesting game; trying to force our Black community to share resources with the Hispanic community. Though the white population of Indianapolis is shrinking, though our Black

community’s six times larger than the Hispanic community. Indy’s white power elite wants Blacks and browns fighting over crumbs, while ineffective white institutions and organizations get the whole cake. That must stop. African Americans are 25 percent of Indianapolis; one-sixth of the metropolitan area. In my view, one-sixth of the corporate, foundation and social service funding in Indianapolis should be devoted to our AfricanAmerican community. It’s more than fair that the Lilly Endowment should devote onesixth of their Indianapolis-based disbursements to Black organizations or for programs with distinct benefit to our African-American community. The city’s other major foundations, including the Central Indiana Community Foundation should do the same. Yes, my idea is like reparations. But instead of the money going to individuals, it’d go to institutions committed to positive programs which would improve the quality of life for our city’s and region’s quarter million African-American population. What I’m hearing in the streets Marion County Prosecutor Scott Newman, a regular reader of this column, took exception to my July 5 column questioning whether he and other GOP leaders tried to get former Sheriff Joe Me Atee to unite with his opponent Lawrence Mayor Tom Schneider. In an e-mail, Newman told me, “I called Joe McAtee twice the week after the primary in an attempt to reach out to him. He refused to return my calls.” ***** The city’s Black-owned TV station, WDNI/Channel 65 began broadcasting from its new downtown studios on media row (Meridian Street). The first VIPs guesting on our daytime program’s downtown debut — Gov. Frank O’Bannon, Attorney General Steve Carter, new IPS School Board President Rev. Michael Brown and Democratic sheriff candidate Frank Anderson. See ‘ya next week!. Amos Brown’s opinions are not necessarily those ofThe Indianapolis Recorder. You can contact him at (317) 808-0430 or e-mail him at [email protected].

Don't expect much from feds in Jackson beating

The instant Black activists saw the videotaped beating of 16-year-old Donovan Jackson, they demanded that the Justice Department prosecute the officer. This has been virtually a mantra in just about every case where police are accused of beating, assailing and gunning down young Blacks. They flat-out don’t trust local police agencies to investigate themselves, nor do they trust district attorneys, police commissions, and local officials because of their cozy, rub shoulder relationship with the police to be any more fair and impartial when it comes to investigating police. The Justice Department supposedly is a far different story. Indeed, Attorney General John Ashcroft talked tough about the police beating, and dispatched his top civil rights lawyer to handle a federal probe. This seems like a good sign that the Justice Department will do something about the beating. But this is probably wishful thinking. Despite the wave of dubious police shootings and beatings of mostly young Blacks and Latinos the past few years, the Justice Department has done almost nothing to nail abusive cops. According to a 1998 report on police misconduct by Human Rights Watch, an international public watchdog group, federal prosecutors bring excessive force charges against police officers in a minuscule number of the cases

involving allegations of police abuse. There was some hope this might change when President Bush and Ashcroft publicly pledged to take a hard and long look at racial profiling and police misconduct. Following three days of rioting in Cincinnati in April, 2001, triggered by the slaying of 19-year-old unarmed Timothy Thomas by white Cincinnati police officer Stephen Roach during a traffic pursuit, Ashcroft announced a full Justice Department probe into police violence in that city, When a Cincinnati judge summarily acquitted Roach of criminal charges in the Thomas slaying a year later, the Justice Department gave no sign that it would even consider filing civil rights charges in the case. And Bush has been mute about the need for more aggressive federal prosecutions to crack down on police violence since his initial vow to do something about police misconduct. The Justice Department has always had on the books a strong arsenal of civil rights statutes to

prosecute abusive police officers. Yet more often than not it has taken major press attention, large-scale protests, and even a major riot, such as the L.A. riots in 1992 following the Rodney King verdict, before it used its legal weapons. It was only because of the intense media focus on the police killings of Tyisha Miller in Riverside, Calif., in 1998, and Amadou Diallo in New York City 1999, and the threat of mass street demonstrations against police abuse, that then President Clinton spoke out against police violence in the waning days of his administration. The Jackson beating is no different. Ashcroft almost certainly acted swiftly because angry protestors stormed City Hall and demanded action. This prompted horrific visions of another civil disturbance in the making. Federal prosecutors say they can’t nail more cops involved in questionable police violence because they are hamstrung by the lack of funds and staff, victims who aren’t perceived as criminals, credible witnesses, and the public’s inclination to always believe police testimony. They also claim they are pinned in by the almost impossible requirement that they prove an officer had the specific intent to kill or injure a victim in order to get a conviction. These are tough obstacles to overcome, and since the Justice Department is in the business of winning cases many prosecutors t

are more than happy to take a handsoff attitude toward police misconduct cases. However, this is no excuse for federal prosecutors not to at least make the effort to prosecute more officers when there is substantial evidence that they used excessive force. This is the legally and morally right thing to do. And it sends a powerful message to law enforcement agencies that the federal government will go after lawbreakers no matter whether they wear a mask, or a badge. But more importantly, it puts police and city officials on notice that they must take stronger action to halt the use of excessive force in their departments. The reluctance of federal prosecutors to go after cops who overuse force and commit abusive acts perpetuates the dangerous cycle of racial confrontation, and deepens the distrust and cynicism of Blacks and Latinos toward the criminal justice system. Black activists did the right thing in demanding a federal probe, and Ashcroft did the right thing by answering their demand. Just don’t expect it to go much further than that. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and columnist. Visit his news and opinion Web site: www.thehutchinsonreport.comHe is the author ofThe Crisis in Black andBlack(MiddlePassage Press).