Cross-Posted from the Washington Informer
Written by William J. Ford
Kwasi Seitu called the policing efforts of D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier bogus and racist.
Lezora Arter said families need to learn to monitor themselves, but also establish a positive relationship with police officers.
Both gave passionate pleas during a town hall meeting Tuesday night at Allen Chapel AME Church in Southeast on ways to improve policing, which at times grew contentious as the city grapples with a surge in violent crime.
At the forum, which drew nearly 100 people, some residents expressed frustration about Mayor Muriel Bowser’s plan to spend $15 million in response to a recent spate of homicides, particularly her goal to hire more police.
“We think this is completely the wrong thing to do. We want to see a surge of community, not police,” said local activist Eugene Puryear. “People need jobs. They need housing. They need mental health care. They need those things right now.”
The situation is a conundrum for the mayor as she deals with opposition from residents clamoring for her to stem the violence and those decrying the increasing police presence, all while the city homicide rate rises. As of Tuesday, there have been 109 homicides in 2015 — up from 74 at this time last year.
From Monday night through early Tuesday morning alone, eight people were shot in three separate incidents in the District, including Jarrell Hall, 28, who died from gunshot wounds inside a residence on Forrester Street SW.
Bowser posted a note Tuesday morning on Twitter that the police department has seized more than 1,100 illegal guns so far this year.
At Tuesday night’s forum, Mena Young-Harris of Temple Hills, Maryland, who attends Allen Chapel and has three grandchildren living in Southeast, agreed that more social services are needed, but not necessarily at the expense of police resources.
“Not all police are bad,” said Young-Harris, whose husband retired from the District’s police force. “My grandchildren will walk up to a police officer and say ‘hi.’ That’s what we are teaching them, to not be afraid of a police officer.”
But Seema Sadanandan, criminal justice director for the city’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter and one of the forum’s hosts, said the District’s disproportionate arrest rate is cause for concern.
“Despite dramatic changes in the African-American population here in D.C., more than 92 percent of [the city’s jail population] is African-American,” she said. “We have not moved … any major police reform in the District.”
Sadanandan cited a 2013 ACLU study of marijuana-related arrests in D.C., which the organization says highlights the racial disparity in the city.
According to the report, blacks were eight times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. In neighboring Prince George’s County, blacks were twice as likely arrested for the same offense.
Although slightly more than half of the city’s residents are black, 91 percent of all marijuana-related arrests were of blacks.
In terms of money, the District spent nearly $18 million to enforce marijuana possession laws, more than $6 million in judicial and legal costs and $2 million to incarcerate people convicted of marijuana-related violations — money that could otherwise be used for public health and safety, drug treatment programs and police-community relations, the report stated.
But at-large Councilwoman Elissa Silverman said the city can and should spend money on both policing and resources for residents.
“We should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. I don’t think it is an either/or proposition. We should have our uniformed officers on the street,” she said after the forum. “We do spend a fair amount of money on things like workforce development. I think the resources are there.”
Three more discussions on policing will take place this month in the District: “Black Women and Girls” from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Florida Avenue Baptist, 623 Florida Ave. NW; “South Asian Arab and Muslim Forum” at Impact Hub, 419 7th St. NW, at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 15; and a town hall forum at First Baptist Church, 712 Randolph St. NW, at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 17.
Monica Hopkins-Maxwell, executive director of ACLU’s D.C. chapter, said more forums will be scheduled later this year.
“Our goal is to be present in all eight wards,” she said.
I enjoy reading articles from Grassroots. I do feel DC (especially in SE) need more policing. We as people need to stop looking and blaming the government for the “NOT.” We need to do. The government cut programs left and right. They (the government) do not owe or own us. We have to take responsibility for ourselves. Jobs will not be given just because. You need to qualify and most importantly, apply. Mental health is an important issue, but our people uses it to get a check from the government not to better themselves. Communities work together to get things done. Look at Capitol Hill residents when the store Frager’s burned down. They came together. Held events to raise money to rebuild. AND that store had insurance. We as a community need to stop looking for the government to give us and we need to teach our people to do for themselves as well as look out for one another.
Police are much needed in far SE. The problem is not the lack of jobs. The problem goes back generations. Grandmothers and mothers not working or working and not being able to focus on kids. And the streets raised children. Grandfathers, fathers, uncles, older cousins, being in jail. They are not in jail for not reason… it is a reason. So why do we feel the need to complain about so many Black men being in jail. Yes, having a little weed is no reason for being in jail, but selling large amounts and crack, heroine, having guns, shooting people, and killing is far more the reason than a little weed.
I feel like we are looking for a handout instead of taking responsibility for ourselves and helping our people. I would like to see an article about how to better ourselves instead of blaming others for the lack of ourselves.
Just a concern SE citizen who want better.
Hello Eboni,
I cross-posted this article because I thought it was a fairly good representation of how complicated the issue is. I don’t think anyone who is seriously working on this issue is looking for handouts. The National Black United Front has started doing Feed the Hood events. Concerned Black Men, Family and Friends of Incarcerated People and a bunch of other organizations that work with returning citizens do indeed advocate for police reform but they mainly do mentoring, job search support, prison visits to help keep families together, etc. But the work that people are doing and have been doing doesn’t get enough attention and this blog is not an exception there.
I agree with you whole heartedly that articles about bettering ourselves would be great to post on GrassrootsDC.org. If you find some that you think we should cross-post or want to write something yourself, please contact me at liane@grassrootsdc.org. I also think that Grassroots DC’s facebook page has a better representation of the positive work being done in the community. Thanks for your comment and thanks for reading. -Liane