Las Vegas Teens Gunned Down, High Crime Areas Not Being Patrolled

Clark County Metro gang unit is currently investigating a Las Vegas Valley shooting. Tuesday, three teens were gunned down at a Winchester Community and Community Center, injuring two boys and one girl. Clark County Police Department says that the shooting could have been prevented, however, the area had not been patrolled for gang activity since April.

In Las Vegas there are not enough metro officers to police the streets and all the areas where crime occurs. Also, metro police officers respond to their own service calls instead of other areas, therefore, many locations are not patrolled, particularly parks.

Clark County Park Police Association President Tim Polk told ABC Action News that violent incidents have increased in Clark County parks and the association’s 15 employees no longer patrol those areas.

Unfortunately, that means more youth being gunned down and dying in the streets because of lack of enforcement and patrol.

Authorities are currently looking for at least two suspects and say that there is a good chance the shooting was gang related.

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Krysten Hughes

What Is Entertaining Us?

I’m not sure what to think about this video. I am kind of disturbed that I am so amused by it. But after I really thought about it (and watched it again,) I became aware of the creativity that went into it’s production and how it really is catchy. But when I considered the fact that this “funny” video is actually based on a young lady being violated, I was again reminded of the manipulative influence that media has on our thought processes. It is not hard at all to watch this video 50 times and still be tickled on the fiftieth time, but each time the video is viewed, the viewer is seeing the story of someone else’s trauma put in the form of an entertaining clip.

The video:

The original news report:

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Kwesi Low

Happy Birthday?

July 26, 2010 would have been the 23^rd birthday of my late Cousin Michael Lamont Johnson. Instead, on December 10^th, 2005, Mikey, as he was known by most (and so many others names to so many others) was slain by gun violence at the age of 18. When I logged into Facebook this morning, I saw a post from my sister and she had changed her profile picture to one of Mikey and my oldest niece. Since she was only two years old at the time, it is not likely that she will have any vivid memories of him. It occurred to me as I was looking at the picture however, that she, as well as my younger niece and nephews who were yet to be born while he was still alive, will be affected by his life and death.

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Kwesi Low

Are You Really Interested In Helping Us?

The violence is increasing in Columbus.  There has been 33 percent more murders in Columbus than a year ago, 61 at this point compared to 46 at this time last year.  It’s the end of July 2010 and the year is only halfway out. The most significant thing I feel that needs attention is the dramatic rise in homicide in the city of Columbus.

Katrel Parker was the latest victim of gun violence this year, and his being 16 years old is sadly not uncommon with the recent trend that has left a streak of families mourning these adolescent boys. What is even more disturbing than the rise in young violence is the collective response being proposed by our city officials.

On the front page of the Friday, July 23rd issue of the Columbus Dispatch, there is an article about the late Katrel Parker and the article was written with a journalist’s analysis of the violent summer in general. The title of the article reads “Mayor, police chief announce new ‘community response teams’ to combat growing violence.” I am baffled of how “combating” violence can be an effective strategy to stop the blood shed that has become common place. When I think “combat” the only thing that comes to mind is even more blood shed and incarcerations. The report appeared to remove the human element from the social conditions that leads to violence such as poverty and joblessness.   The manner in which this phenomenon has been reported leads me to believe that maybe the reporters, law enforcers and city officials are just as lost as the young men who are being plagued with violence.

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Kwesi Low

You Got To Be Kidding Me

Have people truly lost their minds? It seems that people find more and more pleasure in the suffering of others. If it was not for mean spirited jokes, there might not be any comedy at all. I am no different than anyone else, I have certainly laughed at a friend that took a spill (after I helped them up of course), but I wouldn’t try to record it and profit off of a low point in someone else’s life. Unfortunately for people who get locked up in Franklin County, everyone does not feel the same.

There is a weekly publication in my city called Slammer which displays anyone who has been jailed in the county in the previous seven days. For only $1, anyone who has the whim can pick up a copy of Slammer and know who is in jail and for what. There are even stories in it that highlight popular cases and they are often written in a humorous tone.  So I guess we shouldn’t be surprised to walk in any corner store in the ghetto and see some young brothers laughing about one of their boys having his face on the front page; each of them knowing that it could be either of them in next weeks.

I guess the problem is not the paper but the trend that makes the paper possible. The question is how to get those young brothers to start getting angry about their friend being arrested for whatever reason. What they do not realize is that they are the ones that can turn this entire thing around, my only question is how to get them to realize it.

Posted by:

Kwesi Low

Milwaukee’s Juneteenth Celebration Ends Peacefully!!!

Since the 70’s, Milwaukee residents have celebrated this semi-national holiday that only 36 States (if you include DC) recognize but just recently Gov. Jim Doyle (of WI) signed a bill officially recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth Day. Of course, YOU know that Juneteenth takes place on June 19th of every year to acknowledge and appreciate the ending of the enslavement of African Americans. But I didn’t walk around with a camera asking people, “What is Juneteenth” because I didn’t wanna embarrass anyone. Despite the fact that this is one of the most relevant holidays to black folk, there are still a lot of people who aren’t as familiar with the history behind it as they are the actual celebration. Which is probably why it always ended with acts of violence in Milwaukee between patrons or patrons and police ever since I known this event to take place.

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DJWillieShakes

Replacing Hurt With Hope

Three weeks ago today, God took away a piece of my heart when he called back my lil’ cousin. James “Jimmy” Darnell Johnson would kill me for putting his fed name on the Internet but now that he is gone I feel it is my responsibility to introduce him to the world. At 20 years old, Jimmy still had a lot of life ahead of him but it was cut short by gun fire. Jimmy was caught up in the vicious cycle of street enterprise were he found himself engaged to an extent that I believe he was deeply troubled by. However once a person has created a reliable source of income and a comfortable life, it can be hard to turn away from. Unfortunately, when you accept that type of lifestyle, you accept all that comes with it.

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Kwesi Low

Act Bad, Get Slapped! Houston Teacher Caught On Tape Beating Student

A teacher at Jamie’s House Charter School was caught on tape beating one of her students. Apparently the little boy hit or attempted to hit one of the female students and the teacher decided to hit him for “hitting girls.

At first look of the video, the teacher looks as if she is playing around but mid-way through the video you can hear that she is slapping someone’s child! This lady, with her Afro puff pony tail put her hand on someone else’s child and SMACKED him!

Check out the video after the jump!

Posted by:

Christina Sanders