by
dominique DiPrima
I’m looking forward to the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. I didn’t get to go in 2008. But I will be there in 2012, reporting for 102.3 KJLH-FM and I am looking forward to it (trust me, it would have to be major to get this California kid out in that cold weather!) It’s is not just the incredible historical moment of a second term for America’s first Black president that I am celebrating. It is an opportunity for our nation to truly move forward. It is the possibility of solidifying gains and building some real progressive momentum in a second term without the specter of a multi-billion dollar campaign hanging over our heads. If we, the people can remain fired up and ready to go, and apply pressure to our lawmakers, we will be the wind at the President’s back. These four years could be among the most exciting and productive in our political lifetimes.
THE BLACK AGENDA #4: The Prison/Gang Industrial Complex
The issue of violence reduction is a major societal challenge for our nation. It encompasses popular culture, gun control, bullying, violence against children (and methods of youth “discipline,”) domestic violence, sexism, the peace movement, and more. All of these are interconnected and need to be addressed. But in the interest of priorities and a streamlined approach to a Black Agenda I will look at a couple of aspects that seem to have the biggest disproportionate impact on the African American population in America: Prison & Gangs. I am going to keep this segment particularly short and simple. Although volumes could be, and have been written on these two aspects of violence prevention, I believe America is ready for breakthroughs in our approaches to both incarceration systems and gang reduction. Like most of our agenda, it will not be easy, but it must be done, there is simply too much at stake.
• Outlaw Private Prisons – A profit motive in the incarceration of human beings is not conducive to rehabilitation. Prisons for profit create an instant and widespread conflict of interest. When corporations, investors and individuals benefit from the captivity of other men how can there be an incentive to reduce the prison population?
• Mass release of non-violent drug offenders – Relieve prison overcrowding by releasing non violent drug offenders to outpatient drug rehabilitation programs and counseling. Since African Americans who are arrested, are prosecuted at such a higher rate than other groups when they are arrested, this initiative would serve to reverse some of the racial in equality in our incarceration/judicial systems.
• Eliminate the Death Penalty – The death penalty is extremely costly, inefficient and immoral. In addition study after study shows that these laws are disproportionately enforced against Black people. Ending the death penalty in all 50 states would save taxpayers money and immediately eliminate one of the prison-industrial complexes most egregious racial disparities – the execution of innocent Black men.
• Create a serious prison-to-employment pipeline – Target populations that are currently facing the highest unemployment rates and actively place parolees in jobs. If an inmate is good enough to work for Victoria’s Secret or Eddie Bauer while they are behind bars, why aren’t they good enough upon their release? Could we create incentive programs for employers who train & hire felons? Could they be hired on some of the infrastructure projects that are being considered to create jobs and stimulate the economy? This would help stop the recidivism rate and take pressure off of low-income communities that often absorb these almost-unemployable individuals upon their release.
• Reform Three Strikes Laws – Any state that has a three strikes law should be encouraged to adopt changes similar to those passed in California in 2012 where the third strike must be a serious or violent felony to warrant 25 years to life under the Three Strikes law.
• Create a National Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development – Following the lead of Los Angeles under the stewardship of Mayor Antonio Villariagosa, Deputy Mayor Guillermo Cespedes (my husband,) and with the visionary framework laid out by Civil Rights Attorney Connie Rice, the entire Los Angeles Gang Intervention movement, and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck our nation should take on gangs in a multi-dimensional, systemic way. Los Angeles has a unique approach that involves community-based organizations, law enforcement, gang interventionists, city departments, neighborhoods, families and lawmakers to address youth violence prevention. And it’s working. With best practices from across the nation, using the model pioneered in Los Angeles (Hey, we mostly started this mess, doesn’t it make sense that we help clean it up?!) the federal government should open a gang reduction bureau to put all efforts at gang intervention and prevention under one roof.)
I don’t claim to be a prison reform or gang expert, although I spent many years as part of the Los Angeles gang intervention movement as a supporter and urban peace activist. I scaled back my involvement when my husband took on the job at City Hall because I believe one-per-household is a good rule for that kind of grueling work. I can tell you without hesitation, that the kinds of collaboration that are going on now to keep our city safe and provide alternatives for our young people, were once deemed impossible. And I know, as a longtime resident of South Los Angeles, that the link between the prison industrial complex, the revolving door of recidivism, and the gang violence on our streets is direct and brutal. I know for sure that we can’t truly address one without taking on the other. And for Black America the path out of poverty and violence may well be the way out of what South L.A.’s Community Coalition calls “the schools penitentiary tract.” Real reform means breaking the pattern not just for our youth, but for their parents and grandparents who are caught up in a cycle that renders them unable or unfit to care for those children. It means intergenerational change that can create long term community healing. It’s is indeed the way FORWARD.
Peace 2012.
December 9, 2012 at 4:31 pm
What about are Veteran, They quick to send them off to war but slow to help them when they return..such as jobs.. benefits etc…Veteran have been waiting for years for there benefits..and still waiting .There will be more veterans coming back from war and they need lots of help to reprogram them back in to society .The goverment need to step up even more. I’m not saying there not doing anything, they just need to do a better job in what there doing ..some of the VA Hospital are out dated..etc..and the women as well need even more help ….Peace and Blessing to you,,,,,,,,,,
December 9, 2012 at 7:54 pm
I would like to see a re-entree program for the Veterans an non-violent or serious ex cons. I have two cousins that are in such a predicament. The went in when then were young and are having a hell of a time finding work, both very intelligent. They both just started out on the wrong path. I also have a uncle their Father who is a Veteran who’s been given such a run around from the VA, that he just gave up asking, now he’s disabled. I also would like to see the Justice Department investigate some of these stand your ground shootings along with the Criminal Court System, because there should be more fairness in sentencing. Although I personally never been convicted of a crime. I’ve seen how easy given the circumstances you can get caught up.
December 9, 2012 at 11:51 pm
I like to see help done for the Vietnam Veterans as well, and also I would like to see the President Pardon Marcus Garvey and Jack Johnson. I would like to see the Voting Rights Act amended were blacks no longer be considered property of the United States of America, the At Will Law and the Intimate Domain Law be put to a vote for the people to decide if these laws should stay on the books everyone 40 years and older debt should be wiped out 1 time only… and all Black Americans should receive Reparations only 40 years and older in the sum of 100,000 dollars to be deposit in a bank account or credit union no tax on this money…. There needs to be some accountability on education and what the Lottery Commission is doing with the funding toward education and anyone who comes to America to receive a education should work for America until their debts are paid up to 5 years and any New business or development or research of their discovery America should own the patent on it all… time for some action just keepin it real to be continued…….
December 10, 2012 at 12:23 am
part 2 concerning jobs you have outside contractors making a profit by building and constructing in our neighborhood South Central Los Angeles there needs to be some accountability with these contractors come and work and build in our area and there needs to be some effective outreach in our neighborhood so blacks could be trained and go to school and work, blacks should not have to go to East LA to be train to do work in South Central Los Angeles the same programs on the Eastside needs to be in the South Central LA as well and they should be Union skilled jobs only.. and there
should be some accountability of workers on the site black, brown, and white, when you look around our area in the city and see new construction and development where are the black workers and there needs to be some accountabilities in these union halls to make sure that blacks are giving the same opportunity to work is well and money should go to programs like WorkSource which does a great job in developing skills and working with people in the community… concerning Housing AuthorityLos Angeles the government needs to audit this organization and put a freeze on the funds until they can have some accountability
December 10, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Law enforcement there needs to be some accountability and policing on law enforcement officers, South Central Los Angeles and he still a has became the maker of giving out tickets in the black and brown community. Law enforcement officers have made it a point to be at church is on Sundays Mega Churches and post themselves up and wait for people to exit these churches and give out ticket Laws need to change on police officers approach and as well as these DUI charges being handed out freely to drivers to reach a quota for the month. This shoot first ask questions later needs to stop with some of these Cowboys police officer who love to take the law into their own hands and if a person is showing respect to a law enforcement officer then they need to give respect and when a shooting occurs a law enforcement officer needs to be tested for drugs or steroids immediately to see if he has anything in his system… to be continued
December 10, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Excuse some of the mistakes I’m speaking through a phone but you get my point Just keepin it real…
December 12, 2012 at 9:21 pm
I would like to make a comment on Lincoln, Lies and Black Folks. We must know the truth about Lincoln movie and about the Great Emancipator and why the movie isn’t worth your time. LINCOLN REALLY DIDN’T LOVE BLACK PEOPLE IN GENERAL THIS IS SOME OF THE THOUGHTS AND STATEMENTS
THIS IS COMING FROM HIS MOUTH AND FROM JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIAS.AS IT READS. I AGREE THAT HE IS NOT MY EQUAL IN MANY RESPECTS,CERTAINLY NOT IN COLOR, PERHAPS NOT IN MORAL OR INTELLECTUAL ENDOWMENT -ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Here are a few more points :In 1866 when General john c.Fremont freed all slaves in the state of Missouri, Lincoln fired him. When General David Hunter freed the slaves in three states, Lincoln cancelled and Reversed the order. Union military camps were closed to runaway slaves, and some poor Black souls were actually captured by Union soldiers and returned to their rebel owners! Lincoln publicly voiced support for the fugitive slave law, which made every American citizen -North and South -responsibe for catching runaway slaves. No one fought to free Black people, and, indeed, before a single shot was fired agreed to the Crittenden Resolution, which made it clear that the war would not target what they called “established institutions”,namely, Black slavery In reality, Abraham Lincoln is no hero for the Black man. Ebony Magazine editor historian lerone Bennett wrote a landmark 652-page book titled forced into glory that really ends all debate in the matter. We must know the, because the truth will set us all free. Wendell h.Muhammad peace out
December 12, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Lincoln was said to call us the n word all threw the white house and he had slaves too. Look it up.Go to the library get you some Jewish encyclopedias.Do your homework Read the books from Lerone Bennett Forced Into Glory and Before the Mayflower and see if I’m telling the truth. Wendell305@gmail.com
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