Douglas
The issue of “street gang” activity in Rochester has become a hot topic lately! Drive-by shootings, stabbings, large group fights, muggings, burglaries, vandalism, thefts, drug-related crimes, random gunfire and acts of violence, etc., have been on the rise in our area and has catapulted into a multifarious problem!
We now have a community-at-large perplexed with mixed emotions! Do we have meaningful answers to the questions that begin with who, what, when, where and how?
What options have we explored to deal with this emerging problem that is negatively impacting our community? To name a few, I’ve witnessed the formation of neighborhood associations to discuss the issues and provide a watchful eye; Town Hall meetings have been held to raise awareness; school programs have been implemented to prevent bullying; the police department have stepped up patrol; local volunteers have formed a chapter of the Guardian Angels; there has been an increased presence of the Southeast Minnesota Narcotics and Gang Task Force; and we’ve launched an interactive crime website - http://www.rochester911.com/.
When did the pedestrian walkways of our relatively small community become plagued with this “street gang” activity? Who are the offenders? Why do they engage in such criminal activity? Where do they come from? How do we adequately deal with this crisis?
I think in order for us to effectively tackle the surface issues of what some gang members do (i.e. break the law, sell and use drugs, condemn authority, promote destruction), we need to understand the make-up of the inner being of these troublesome youth groups!
What is going on within the minds and hearts of these street-oriented individuals, who are in opposition to mainstream norms? Why do they adopt & promote the negative aspects of “street gang” culture, instead of endorsing and encouraging the positive attributes of their “ethnic” culture?
Let us keep in the forefront of our humane and rational psyche; we are referring to our youth and young adults who may feel disenfranchised, alienated, neglected or abused!
Community-at-large, my suggested INTERVENTION to help PREVENT this multifarious problem is to have these troubled human beings sit down and allow us to ask the tough questions, as aforementioned! Let them tell us why they succumb to negative peer pressure, what are their inner values, who are their role models, how do they intend to be productive members of society, when will they look inside themselves and allow their positive self-identity to resonate, and where do they want to see themselves in the future?
Frederick Douglas is a member of the United Way of Olmsted County African-American Leadership Council
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