Sep 22, 2007

Letters

Crime is intolerable

Dear Editor: On a recent Friday night another teen party meant to be a small, contained event that spun out of control when uninvited people arrived to cause trouble.

In addition, there was a gang of seven to eight guys robbing kids. By 9:30 p.m., the host shut the party down, sending 50 of so kids wandering the streets. As the kids regrouped and walked towards BART and the 7/11 store, they were confronted by this gang. Dozens of teens lost money, phones, shoes, beanies, electronics, whatever. When my son's group was taken by surprise, one of the boys stepped up to protect the youngest member and he was assaulted, an unfair fight with six against one. The ringleader resorted to using a baseball bat, removed from its hiding place under his shirt. Luckily my son's friend will recover, but he was sent to the hospital. At this point, my son quickly called 911 and provided the police with sufficient details leading to a positive ID and an arrest.

What concerns me is that nearly all the kids, even those robbed and upset, expressed shock and surprise that my son called the cops, as if his decisive action violated some unspoken code or agreement.
Is it more than the alcohol impairing their judgment?

I am disappointed to see time and again teens' social events marred by violence. I am just as disappointed in the lack of public discourse to address these issues and the attitudes of so many of the community leaders who gloss over the facts and pretend that all is well. It is not. Is the anti-snitch mentality so pervasive in youth culture reinforced when our schools and community fail to provide an honest and realistic picture of youth crime and gang culture? Why is it that every discussion on youth crime is more concerned about any negative or stigmatizing view of the youth offender and rarely concerned about justice for victims?
Thanks to the El Cerrito police, who were fast, responsive, decent and professional.
Laura Menard,
Berkeley