WE CANNOT GIVE IN TO TERRORISTS -- SUPPORT YOUR FRONT LINE COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS


We cannot let thugs frighten us into submission — whether they are thugs from the other side of the world, or right here in our own back yard. People in this community need to stand together with the front line community activists so that the burden of the cost of our fight does not fall on our shoulders alone.

Around midnight Saturday night, someone threw a rock through the front window of another community activist on Weld Street, causing what she estimates will be $3500 damage. She believes this happened because she was out with other volunteers picking up trash on Weld Street as part of our area’s Clean Sweep. (BTW, I was so glad to see many of my friends, and so many others present, for that event!)

We don’t know for sure of course. The recent rock throwing could be random violence. I've been told another house on Union, occupied by someone who is not an activist, got rocks through a window a few days ago as well. In the long run, though, whether random or targeted, vandalism of this sort in a neighborhood where SOME activists are affected is going to be perceived as retaliation.

And what matters most isn’t the property damage, it is the damage to people’s spirits. It is particularly disheartening for people who have very few resources for replacing what was lost.

We have come too far to allow a bit of rock throwing to send us back to square one. We cannot allow terrorism — and, if targeted, that is exactly what it is — to so discourage us that we give in and let the thugs of this neighborhood regain control of territory we have fought so hard to regain.

On the other hand, we also cannot expect individuals who have so little to bear the brunt of the cost. We cannot allow those who have stood on the front lines to suffer, while everyone else in the community benefits from their actions. Losing in this way dampens people’s enthusiasm for being involved, and frightens others away from even starting. And when that happens, everyone loses.

Rock throwing is microscopic by comparison to what happened with 9/11. But it operates on the same principle.

This community needs to operate on the same principles that brought us together after 9/11, which brought a huge outpouring of financial support — even from those who had little to spare -- to help defray the cost of what was lost during that terrible tragedy.

Today is Memorial Day, where we honor people who put their lives on the line for their country. Although their risk is less, our front line community activists also deserve our gratitude and support — including cold, hard cash to help defray at least some of the cost of this vandalism. (J.D., I don’t have much, but there’s a $20 bill waiting for you, in hopes that others will follow suit.)

Spring Worth, community project organizer for the Marketview Heights Community Action Group and I have agreed that an emergency Marketview Heights community meeting so we can talk about the best way to respond to events like this, is appropriate. We need to bring in Mayor Duffy, Chief Moore and any the other police brass we can muster.

We cannot let thugs frighten us into submission — whether they are thugs from the other side of the world, or right here in our own back yard.

Posted: Sat - May 27, 2006 at 10:07 AM          

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