“Federal troops to quell urban violence? Black on Black Love founder asks Obama to send help”

[jody]

“Federal troops to quell urban violence?", Chicago Sun Times

Gardner is asking Obama to send federal troops to urban areas that are now under siege by domestic terrorists fighting gang wars.

Our children are dying in the streets.

Yet so far more attention has been paid to the violence in Afghanistan and Iraq.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

He argues that the Chicago Police Department has a "serious morale problem" and that could make it even more difficult to curtail the crime in embattled neighborhoods.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"We have committed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan to protect their children. So it only makes sense that since ten times as many minorities are being killed in the streets of America, America needs to commit troops to protect the children who are being killed right here."

Dept. of Justice report, Racial differences exist, with blacks disproportionately represented among homicide victims and offenders
In 2005, homicide victimization rates for blacks were 6 times higher than the rates for whites.
In 2005, offending rates for blacks were more than 7 times higher than the rates for whites
From 1976 to 2005 --
• 86% of white victims were killed by whites
• 94% of black victims were killed by blacks

Should Obama send troops to Chicago?

[babylonsister]

1. " Black on Black Love founder"? Does the person have a name?

Yes, thanks for the links, but that's quite the description I never heard of. :eyes:

[-..__...]

4. Blame the Sun times.

If you had clicked on the link, you'd see that it's a cut'n'paste from the headline.

[the other one]

2. Better answer: end the war on drug users.

Voilà! The guns are gone.

Next problem?

[cali]

3. wtf? no, of course he shouldn't fucking break the law.

[jeff30997]

5. "We have committed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan to protect their children"

Yeah,right,whatever.

[jody]

7. Do you think Gardner might have a point by acknowledging "domestic terrorists"? n/t

[cali]

9. Here's your whatever. Glad to help educate you on this subject

The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 16, 1878 after the end of Reconstruction, with the intention (in concert with the Insurrection Act of 1807) of substantially limiting the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement. The Act prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services (today the Army, Air Force, and State National Guard forces when such are called into federal service) from exercising nominally state law enforcement, police, or peace officer powers that maintain "law and order" on non-federal property (states and their counties and municipal divisions) within the United States.

<snip>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act

[jody]

11. Presidents have issued executive orders before using active duty troops for domestic law

enforcement, e.g. Eisenhower's Executive Order 10730

[jeff30997]

22. That's not what I was being cynical about.

"We have committed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan to protect their children" ???

So those troops bombed and invaded Iraq and Afghanistan to protect the kids?

[blondeatlast]

6. I don't follow blind links--where are you trying to take me?

Regardless of whether it's left or right, I don't like obviously biased reporting and I sense a little something in the air up there.

[jody]

8. The link works for me and the quoted article title is from the Chicago Sun Times. n/t

[blondeatlast]

13. I don't follow blind links--what site will I go to if I click?

You didn't understand my post at all.

[maddezmom]

15. The first one is suntimes

Federal troops to quell urban violence?
Black on Black Love founder asks Obama to send help
Recommend (1) Comments

March 31, 2009

BY MARY MITCHELL Sun-Times Columnist
Obviously, President Obama can't read the tons of mail he receives. But there's one letter floating around the White House that I hope he reads.

That letter is from Edward G. Gardner, a prominent Chicago businessman and the founder of Black on Black Love, the city's pioneering anti-violence campaign.

Gardner is asking Obama to send federal troops to urban areas that are now under siege by domestic terrorists fighting gang wars.

Our children are dying in the streets.

Yet so far more attention has been paid to the violence in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Here are a few excerpts from Gardner's impassioned plea:

"We realize that you are a strong proponent of 'bottom up' solutions that start within the community. Yet, the community-based approaches will only work when it is made evident that the lives of our youth are a national priority. That understanding will only come about with the presence of federal troops, stationed on the streets of America for the purpose of keeping our young people safe.

more:http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/1503384,CST-NWS-mitch31.article

and here is the second:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/race.htm

[jody]

16. I repeat #8, Chicago Sun Times. n/t

[jody]

18. Mea culpa, the second link is to the Department of Justice. n/t

[jody]

21. Thanks, I've added the sources to the OP. n/t

[aikoaiko]

19. if you use firefox, simply right click the link and then click on properties to see for yourself

if its not to much of an effort. After all checking yourself is a lot easier than typing a post asking where the links go.

I'm pretty sure there is a similar process for every browser to see where a link goes.

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. "I have never seen a situation so dismal that a policeman couldn't make it worse." - Brendan Behan

Somehow, I don't think military personnel outside the force of law will makes things any better.

[jody]

12. If police and troops aren't the solution, what do you propose, surrender? n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

14. Do you really think armed military personnel, operating outside the law, is a solution?

How about we support leaders of the African American community as they try to change the culture of violence? Treat drug addiction as a medical problem with medical treatments rather than as a crime in need of punishment? Break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness, starting with providing jobs that pay a living wage?

The Army and National Guards are already in deep shit: to bolster enlistment they have had to lower standards, with the result that many people with criminal records and racist, extremist and gang backgrounds are armored and carrying high powered automatic weapons. We may find this necessary in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I think it would dangerous in the extreme to have these very same people doing this on American streets. Especially because, almost certainly, people given this stateside duty will be those who have already served several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and have developed a "shoot first and pray to God you kill them before they kill you" trigger finger.

[jody]

20. The governor of Illinois has the unorganized militia but sadly congress has not done its job "To

provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia".

In IL, "The State militia consists of all able-bodied persons residing in the State except those exempted by law."

[Blue_Tires]

17. ugh...Gardner may as well ask Blackwater to set up shop...

only then will he learn the true depth of horror in his silly request...

[rampart]

23. national guard just left new orleans

black on black murder still daily. can all of these people owe money for drugs?

whites are chastised as only caring if a white is killed (we do tend to be upset by these rare occurances.)

police are only bothered by the even rarer murder : tourist.

few arrests, hardly any convictions, most murder suspects are released after 60 day hold. many kill again, and again.

martial law would not bother me at all.