HOTLINE TO TARGET HOSTILITY : GROUPS SEEK END TO HATE CRIMES.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer As Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley introduced a new regional hate crime hotline Thursday, a Nation of Islam Nation of Islam: see Black Muslims. Nation of Islam or Black Muslims African American religious movement that mingles elements of Islam and black nationalism. It was founded in 1931 by Wallace D. official warned of repercussions repercussions npl → répercussions fpl repercussions npl → Auswirkungen pl if justice does not prevail in the racial attack on an African-American youth. The Nation of Islam was one of several groups present Thursday at a news conference to address the recent spate of hate crimes that have hit the Antelope Valley within the past two weeks. ``There are a lot of other incidents growing out of this, and children are wanting to take matters into their own hands,'' said Minister Tony Muhammad, western regional representative of the Nation of Islam. ``If justice is not swift, then you will see the court of justice in the streets like you've never seen before.'' Muhammad advised against violence, saying he did not want to see youths beating other youths. ``We better not ignore the situation,'' Muhammad said. ``We must seize the moment. If not, we are going to have total chaos Total Chaos is a series of simple turn based strategy game / card game / board games for the Amiga. They were written by James Conwell and a group of developers known as Team Chaos. .'' The news conference in front of Palmdale City Hall was organized by the Antelope Valley Coalition For Racial Healing. Other groups present included the Latinos for Social Justice, the Antelope Valley branch of the NAACP NAACP in full National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Oldest and largest U.S. civil rights organization. It was founded in 1909 to secure political, educational, social, and economic equality for African Americans; W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida B. and the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission. A series of hate crimes has been reported since July 8, when 16-year-old Marcus Cotton was attacked with a machete by three self-described skinheads Noun 1. skinheads - a youth subculture that appeared first in England in the late 1960s as a working-class reaction to the hippies; hair was cropped close to the scalp; wore work-shirts and short jeans (supported by suspenders) and heavy red boots; involved in attacks as he walked along Division Street with his 17-year-old cousin. The latest attack involved two self-described skinheads who were accosted ac·cost tr.v. ac·cost·ed, ac·cost·ing, ac·costs 1. To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request. 2. To solicit for sex. Monday outside a grocery store in Lancaster by an African-American youth, who shouted racial slurs and kicked one of the victims. Sheriff's deputies have responded by bringing in a Gang Enforcement Team consisting of eight deputies and a sergeant that will work in the Antelope Valley for up to three weeks, officials said. The regional hate crimes hotline is being put into operation today by the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster and by Los Angeles County, Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said at the news conference. The toll-free number is 1-888-AT PEACE and will be coordinated through the office of the Latinos for Social Justice, Ledford said. ``It is a priority. Hate crimes will not be tolerated,'' Ledford said. Even though some criticize the Nation of Islam as espousing separatist principles, Ledford said he felt comfortable talking to Muhammad, who was accompanied by security guards, young men dressed in crisp suits. ``I don't try to prejudge pre·judge tr.v. pre·judged, pre·judg·ing, pre·judg·es To judge beforehand without possessing adequate evidence. pre·judg people. I took him just as a man who had some questions about issues about our community,'' Ledford said. ``As a mayor, I talk to everybody.'' Coalition spokesman Emmanuel Ikharebha said the coalition invited the Nation of Islam. ``We invited everybody. They wanted to know what the problem was and how they can help,'' Ikharebha said before the news conference. Ikharebha criticized city officials for spouting spout·ing n. Chiefly Pennsylvania & New Jersey See gutter. See Regional Note at gutter. spouting Noun NZ a. rhetoric about facing hate crimes but not taking action and said schools were not doing enough to deal with the issue. ``The schools claim they have programs in place to deal with cultural diversity issues yet racial incidents and hate crimes on campuses have grown,'' Ikharebha said at the news conference. Antelope Valley Union High School District The Antelope Valley Union High School District (A.V.U.H.S.D.) is located in the Antelope Valley area of California, in northern Los Angeles County. The district includes eight public high schools, one trade school, and two continuation high schools in the cities of Palmdale Superintendent Robert Girolamo defended the district's policies, saying they endorse zero tolerance The policy of applying laws or penalties to even minor infringements of a code in order to reinforce its overall importance and enhance deterrence. Since the 1980s the phrase zero tolerance has signified a philosophy toward illegal conduct that favors strict imposition of for hate crimes. A district hotline has been established, part of the ninth-grade health class focuses on students accepting others and being sensitive to other people's needs, and staff at each of the high schools has undergone training, Girolamo said. ``We put in place last year an ombudsman, an African-American, to talk to kids, for kids to vent their frustration,'' Girolamo said. ``Next year, we will have a Latino.'' Cotton, who attended the news conference, said he is slowly recovering from his wounds. ``I'm just happy that they are doing something,'' Cotton said. ``Why did a person actually have to get hurt?'' he asked, before something was done. The hotline was one of the recommendations in a report by the Antelope Valley Human Relations Study Group, an ad hoc committee ad hoc committee A committee formed with the purpose of addressing a specific issue or issues, which theoretically is disbanded once its raison d'etre is finished studying hate crimes. Other recommendations include encouraging community organizations, churches and schools to report hate crimes and assisting victims through counseling and the cleanup of graffiti. Prosecutors have filed assault charges and hate crime allegations against two 16-year-old Lancaster boys in the attack on Cotton, who was punched, kicked and slashed with a machete, leaving a deep cut on his right arm and wounds on his back and shoulders. The two boys, whose names have not been released because of their age and who have identified themselves as skinheads, are scheduled to be arraigned July 22 in Sylmar Juvenile Court juvenile court Special court handling problems of delinquent, neglected, or abused children. Two types of cases are processed by a juvenile court: civil matters, often concerning care of an abandoned or impoverished child, and criminal matters, arising from antisocial . CAPTION(S): Photo: Joyce Vause, Marcus Cotton, Angela McKenzie, Lamont Johnson a nd Minister Tony Muhammad attend Thursday's anti-hate crimes rally. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion