Commentary: Why are we reliving issues of 1964 in 2004?

With a little help from mainstream, mass media, you can fool some of the people some of the time

We felt that it was important to submit this article in order to debunk the half-truths and lies published in an article written by Rochester City Council persons Lois and Ben (See their Oct 20 editorial below).

With regard to police / community relations in Rochester, we vehemently object to the disingenuous, distorted, make-believe view and perspective espoused by Rochester City Council President Lois Giess and Chairperson of the City Council’s Finance & Public Safety Committee Benjamin Douglas.

We are not aware of the specifics in Giess’s and Douglas’s "community" relative to citizens’ relations with police, but as it relates to the "hood," (just as Minister Malcolm X warned prior to the local uprising and explosion of 1964) we are still at a point (40 years later) at which --- with the exception of a relatively small number of officers who have made it their business to get to know the people, and always attempt to treat them justly and fairly --- police are despised by many, especially among the youth. And as Minister Malcolm also warned 40 years ago --- we are at a point at which it is not necessary to incite or "inflame racial animosity." The centuries-old issue and problem has a fuse of its own, and is potentially self-igniting.

We have thoughtfully and thoroughly examined, and studied Councilwoman Lois’s and Councilman Ben’s editorial, but cannot find any explanation or rationale that clarifies how utilizing a police vehicle to literally herd Black people, as if they are cattle, is any different than tactics employed against Black people in apartheid South Africa. We are also convinced that any fool would reject their fundamentally flawed notion that: "Like bullets, words can hurt." Surely they are aware that unlike words, bullets can and do kill, especially Black people (more so than anyone else) throughout the U.S. of A. This has always been the case --- just as it was in apartheid South Africa.

Certain parts of the Councilman’s and Councilwoman’s editorial are just plain ludicrous. For example, how can they possibly talk about treating "all citizens with dignity and respect," when police tactics are used against some citizens that are comparable to the manner in which ranchers deal with their cows and horses?

As it relates to their assertion that "for more than a decade Chief Duffy has worked successfully to implement community policing" --- this is a half-truth at best. Just because someone works at something --- doesn’t automatically make him or her successful. For example, educators in Rochester have worked for many decades in attempts to improve academic success for the majority of our students --- yet academic failure is more widespread than ever! The same is basically true regarding the issue of so-called community policing. A statement made by Chief Duffy during a Community Forum at the Downtown Presbyterian Church on October 1, 2004 is clearly indicative of this fact. The Chief is quoted as having said: "I am a huge foot-patrol advocate. I think foot patrols helps to personalize policing. It helps officers get to know people. A big problem today is that we [police] are so 911-driven. Officers answer 440,000 (911) calls a year. During the ‘60’s, 70’s and 80’s --- it was probably half of that. I think officers spend too much time in cars, (going from call to call) as opposed to proactive policing. We have 700 sworn officers right now. I don’t think the City can afford a big increase. There is a need to look at systems changes." Thus, regardless of how hard people may be working, economic circumstances and the lack of political will are clearly dictating that we are moving farther away, as opposed to closer to realization of authentic community policing. The same holds true relative to so-called steps that have been "taken to make the [police] department reflect its community." Regardless of the "steps" that have been taken --- the Rochester Police Department is barely more reflective of the overall Rochester Community than it was 40 years ago.

We also take serious issue with the statement that "no one in Rochester has worked harder on issues of racism than Bill Johnson." Many of us have worked as hard or harder than Johnson, period! But the most critical point is that (regardless of how hard we have worked) just as in the case of progress, or the lack thereof regarding improved academic achievement and community policing --- institutional racism, which of course is dependent upon individual racism (both of which are more sophisticated than ever before), are as entrenched, rampant, and pervasive as they were 40 years ago.

With regard to the Rochester Police Department and the so-called "Civilian Review Board" --- this represents another idea that many of us worked for years to have implemented --- only to end up with a toothless, paper tiger. Although the so-called Civilian Review Panels can "invite police officers to answer questions" --- officials such as Ronald Evangelista (President of the Locust Club, or police union) can and do issue responses to such invitations, which (for all practical intents and purposes), translate into ‘go to hell.’ And, although the "panels hear testimony and make findings and recommendations to the police chief about any need for discipline" --- the chief is under absolutely no obligation to accept any findings or recommendations from the so-called Civilian Review Board. We repeat, the Board is a totally toothless, paper tiger! This is why some of us had fought for an independent civilian review board with subpoena powers.

Again, we vehemently dispute the allegation that relative to police and community relations, "it’s been steady progress," especially where the Black Community is concerned. In fact, when we closely examine overall conditions and relations, we must ask, why are we reliving issues of 1964 in 2004?

So, Lois and Ben can fool themselves, and try to fool others regarding the existence of "trust," but some of us know better. Incidentally, to state that "trust can be easily shattered," represents a contradiction of ideas, especially by way of a Councilman’s words vis-a-vis police bullets --- such as those that have claimed the lives of a number of Black men in this community during the same "past decade" that Lois and Ben want to pretend produced so much change and progress.

In the final analysis, there are many of us within the progressive, grassroots, Black Community (the "hood") who are just plain overjoyed by the fact that (unlike many of our so-called representatives), Councilman McFadden has decided not to be tongue-in-cheekish. If telling the raw truth about what’s really going on is considered by upholders of the status quo as being "wild, headline-grabbing, accusations that shake trust and impede [so-called] progress" --- then so be it! But when it comes to Councilman McFadden, our position is hands off! 

Penned by Howard J. Eagle (on behalf of those who support this position).