Written by Larry Aubry, (Columnist), on 11-19-2009 00:00
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Complacency Feeds Continuing Violence
Violence respects neither race nor class and has become the horrific norm in certain Los Angeles neighborhoods. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) statistics, notwithstanding, violence has actually increased in parts of South Central Los Angeles (SCLA). It goes without saying that these neighborhoods are populated almost exclusively by Blacks and Latinos.
America was born of violence and is evidenced throughout its history. Sadly, Blacks, the prime victims of this violence, beginning with slavery, tend to rationalize its harms-mostly by their silence-at their own peril.
Excessive force and other forms of violence still generally define law enforcement's modus operandi, particularly in dealing with Blacks in high poverty areas. Not only are there similarities between 13-year-old Devin Brown's killing in 2005 and numerous other such senseless killings, there is also another disturbing similarity in most high-profile violence-related incidents involving Blacks. It's usually spontaneous but temporary outrage and little, if any, follow-up by those who same people and groups who claim to be fed up and, "won't take it no more."
Historical and more current examples of this lack of follow up Los Angeles include Eula Love, Leonard Deadwyler, Margaret Mitchell, Darryl Miller, Devin Brown, Susa Pena, Matthew Jerome Powel and Inglewood cops killing five reportedly unarmed men (four Black one Latino) in the last year. These cases all involved highly questionable deadly or excessive use of force by the police. Each caused widespread anger and expressions of outrage but there was very little follow up action. Blacks generally decry violence but relatively few seem willing to actually do something about it.
Clearly, police violence is still a significant problem and, almost without exception the cops are in win-win situations. For example, Devin Brown was shot numerous times by an LAPD officer. Not only was the officer not prosecuted, he was exonerated by a Board of Rights that has final authority in LAPD personnel matters. It should be noted that the Police Commission found Devin Brown's killing "out of n policy." (Former Police Chief William Bratton sided with the Board of Rights, not the Police Commission)
Despite the lifting the Consent Decree between the City of Los Angeles and the U.S. Department of Justice, LAPD traditional practices continue-including the shield of silence that protects and exonerates rogue cops. And Chief Bratton back-pedaled on his pledge for greater transparency by supporting redacting (withholding) the names of officers involved in shootings: He supported a City Attorney interpretation that expanded a court decision pertaining exclusively to documents to also include disciplinary hearings. So much for LAPD's "progressive" reformer.
California's Police Officers Bill of Rights mandates favorable consideration and practically impenetrable protective provisions for every officer under an investigation that could lead to punitive action. The Bill of Rights is a blatantly stacked deck; police rights are paramount and under cover of the law cops are virtually immune from criminal prosecution.
There has been little strategic or sustainable focus on violence prevention generally. Many forget, however, that violence is the primary responsibility of the (total) community, not law enforcement. Since violence intervention strategies are, by definition, after the fact, there must be an awareness that long range reduction requires that those responsible for dealing with the problem work collaboratively on both prevention and intervention; the two must be fused.
Very few groups or organizations address violence-prevention or intervention- on a sustained basis. The Southern California Cease Fire Committee is an important exception. It is an anti-violence coalition made up largely of gang interventionists and concerned others that provides a safe space for ex-bangers, ex-offenders, families of victims of violence and virtually anyone in need of support stemming from a violent situation. The Community Call to Action an Accountability (CCAA), formed after Devin Brown's killing (2005) is similarly involved: It focuses on police abuse and Black-on-Black violence. These two groups are significant in that their purpose is chiefly violence reduction. Other such groups are critically needed.
Violence in South Central Los Angeles has decreased statistically but residents see little difference. The apparent acceptance of continuing violence as inevitable by many Blacks is even more disturbing. Conditioned complacency lulls many into contributing to their own oppression. This makes critically needed unified efforts all the more difficult.
In certain Los Angeles neighborhoods, widespread violence still exists and has reached crisis levels. Those most directly affected must lead the fight for reduction but they cannot do it alone: Violence affects everyone and we are all obligated to assume some responsibility for its reduction. Complacency is not an option.
