Mary Mitchell

Well Mary way to completely miss an opportunity to show some unbiased reporting. You trumpet what you feel is biased based policing every chance you get however, when an incident occurs where there is a clear opportunity to place blame on the bad guy you spin the situation back to Burge and blame the police once again. While many blacks have been mistreated by police officers this incident has nothing to do with those incidents. While many may feel they have been wronged in the past there is no reason to believe the officer in this incident did anything but protect his life and that of his partner and the surrounding community. If at every opportunity we as a community live in the past we cannot build a better future. The injustices of the past have become a crutch for the black community to lean on when blame must be placed squarely where it belongs. In this case it belongs with the parents and the child with the gun.

Randy

MITCHELL COMMENT:

Randy, you missed my point. I did not blame the police for the shooting. At no point did I suggest the cops were not justified in shooting the 14-year-old. I tried to bring some context to why people in a community like Cabrin-Green would believe a white cop would shoot an unarmed 14-year-old.

It is absurd to think that the past mistreatment of blacks at the hands of white police officers has no bearing on how some blacks view white police officers.

No doubt, many wrongs have been committed against black people by bad cops. The problem with the big protest over the shooting involving the 14 year old with the bb gun, is that it erodes the credibility of the black community. Why would anyone march for a punk with a realistic looking gun who uses it to rob people? To stand up for criminals against the police in your own neighborhood, makes you look foolish at best. Side with the cops when you know they are right. March in protest when you know they are wrong. Don't join a protest until you understand what happened.

MITCHELL COMMENT:

The protest by 200 young people in Cabrini-Green should not erode the credibility of an entire race of people. The protest over the shooting had more to do with the frustration this low-income population has over their plight, as well as a distrust of police, than it does the BB gun.

Please, do not confuse loud and vulgar with righteous indignation. What is this thing that Blacks, who are shooting one another down at near epidemic porportion throughout this country, only get upset when someone other then another Black squeeze the trigger. This is the same community that the streets had to be closed down in order for traffic to egress peacefully to and fro. This is the same community that for many years boasted it own Police Unit, dedicated to this specific geographic area and its people. Where are the reverends, the activists and the concern parents, when one child shoots down another. Where are the marches,the protesters, the bullhorns, the sobbing wretched souls of the disenfranchised. You want to know what Black People are tired of:
sneaking out to empty the garbage, wondering if some Black guy is going to jump from behind the garage cans and rob or shoot them. Black People are tired of sleeping on the floor, because the neighborhood punks, gangbangers, dope dealers and the likes, decide to fire their weapons indiscriminately into the night. Black People are tired having to send their kids through a maze of street walking anti-social rejects, just to attend a subpar school. Black Seniors are tired having to run for cover at the approach of darkness, because the young men think of them as easy pickings. Black people are tired of being intimidated by those who subscribe to a life style of lawlessness. Black people are tired of being silent, for fear of retributions. Black people are tired of working endlessly, only to return home to find that their homes have been burglarized or damage by the idle masses. Black People are tired of being lumped in with thes idiots who see ever misfortune as a lotto or a get rich scheme. Black People are tired of self serving politicans, self annointed reverends. Mostly Black People are tired of being tired.

You know something, I am so tired of hearing that the criminal is suddenly the victim, just because he is black. As someone who has family members who are police officers, I would like to say, I would prefer that they come home safe rather than hesitate and end up in a body bag. I have in my own neighborhood witnessed first hand how disrespectful some black children can be toward the police. For instance, I came upon about 15 kids(between 7-15 in age) arguing with about 4 police officers. With all the noise they were making, you would think at least one parent would come out and try to correct them, but no that is what they have taught. They think it is funny to be ignorant, but let something happen and who do they expect to help them?? The same officers that they were just insulting. The police are constantly putting their lives on the line, granted there are a few bad in the bunch, but as you said don't label the entire group for a few that have made mistakes. I cannot imagine any of my children acting so disrespectful to any adult, let alone an authority figure. Stop using the environment as an excuse, there are many that have brought themselves along way from the projects. They didn't allow themselves to become a product of their environment. And for God's sake stop using being black as the reason for everything. I think that more than any other race, the black people are the first to use the "race card". Get over it already, as I think that it is type of person bringing problems on themselves sometimes with that rare exception.

I'm not a BB gun toting punk and I'm sick and tired of the Chicago Police. I am not black, but stand in solidarity with the African American community every time one of our brothers' civil rights are abused at the hands of the corrupt Chicago Police Department. The injustices of the past will stop being a crutch for people of color once they are appropriately redressed and justice is found for each and every one of them.

The corrupt Chicago Police Department feels entitled to mistreat all residents of minority communities with impunity. Until that sense of entitlement disappears, they get nothing but disdain and contempt from us.

I question why it took three bullets for a cop to make his point.

Was his life really in danger after his first round was shot? That's where I feel it was wrong...dead wrong. Firing three shots in a young kid.

We can't have it both ways. On one hand, we scream that the police don't care when crime happens in our neighborhood, but when they do respond, an something goes wrong, we complain even when we, as black people probably would have responded the same way. It is sad that a 14 yr old was shot, but why did he have a gun of any type? In a city of all places. How would anyone know that its not real, particularily when you are making a slit second decision about life or death, maybe even your own. The fact that we keep having these incidents, fear walking in our own neighborhoods and feel the need to escape to somewhere else, just shows the sorry state of our community.

Ed Bone: you nailed it man. You hit a home run in a way a race-baiting Mary Mitchell will never acknowledge even if, deep in her heart, she knows you're right. The hard truth doesn't sell papers. Well done.

ed bone is right: we are each other's worst enemy.

Marches and protests lose their influence on many of us when the black community keeps reelecting Mayor Daly.
How bad does it have to be before you realize blacks in Chicago have it much worse than blacks in other parts of the country.
Children shot by random gun fire is a very rare occurance nation wide. In Chicago it is the norm. When a child is shot, the mayor only makes a statement if the gun used falls under some statute he is trying to push through for political reasons.
He has conned the black community for years and you keep accepting it.

Mary - I just read Mary's comments about Blacks being tired.

Her statements are so true, I've often wondered why our "Black Leaders" don't speak out more when our children are being killed by those in their own community everyday. The march and chants of "no justice, no peace" end as soon at the TV cameras go away. No one comes forward to help solve these crimes, not even a police artist sketch is ever provided. Yet, we moan and groan when the media moves on to the next story. While we can't deny the impact that racist police have had on our community in the past, I refuse to believe that it has anything to do with what we are doing to each other in 2006.

Mary,
I'm sorry but I would have to agree with most of these post. Your comments come off as a defense rather than point the finger at these morons. The protesters were not all from the area much less adults. They were gangbangers and family members of the criminal who was using this weapon to commit crimes. Why is that not spoken about?
By your above reply's, Why wouldn't it be the same for white people to hold grudges against blacks for the criminal element that is prevelent in these impoverished neighberhoods. ANSWER: Because the black equality movement would never have gotten of the ground without the joint efforts of all people.
We who were raised to treat people equally are tired of blacks blaming all whites for their troubles. Black people will never get respect when they pull this nonsense. This is about gentrification so why not protest the Alderman? The people of that neighberhood had just had meetings with the Police about continued trouble in that area, then this shooting happens...You can't have it both ways!
Bad people obviously don't like the Police, So do you beleive EVERY claim they make. I remember my friends older sister refering to me as "blue eyed Devil" when I was over at their house as a kid...Should I hold a grudge the rest of my life for the ignorance of others? I feel the most for the hard working people of all impoverished areas that have to deal with this element. They will always get it from both sides...Who speaks for them?

Once again, I'm not surprised you have no condemnation for a teen who points a gun at a police officer. Nevermind the criminal history and community violence involved that you could have even blamed for this.
You question the police tactic of shoot first ask questions later. I would love to see your reaction when a drug dealing, gang banger points a gun at you. Those officers had every right to shoot, and did. How you bring police torture and white vs black in the story is beyond me. Stretching to make such a baseless conclusion is what perpetuates the view you claim to try and dispell, that whites have of blacks!!

Wow the irony of this conversation. Newsflash, the 14 WAS armed (bb gun or not)it looked all to real to me. The people in Cabrini Green not trusting the police, is also vice versa. Case in point what happened.

Of the 20 or so officers that I know personally, their goal at the end of the day is to make it home safe to their families. Not worry about some punk pulling a weapon, real or not.

Could this whole issue be that it was white officers shooting a black child? Gee my the tides have turned as opposed to your views with Ryan, shoe does not feel good on the other foot does it.

My question being to you is this...... why is almost everything you ever publish or post have to do with race? It seems like as others try to get past the race issue, you keep throwing it in everyones face over and over.

Maybe the Sun Times needs a journalist that reflects the views of the white people, just to even the scales. Sun Times you can contact me at any time..... lol

MITCHELL COMMENT:

My comments are about race because this is a blog where people are invited to talk about race.

I have to agree with Mary's comments. I live on the west side of Chicago, I am degreed and serve as an officer at one of Chicago's largest financial institutions. I too am appalled that our so called leaders can always find a television camera/microphone when a Black person is hurt/murdered by someone other than another Black person. When I read about the 12 year old who with his 17 year old cousin killed a man during a dice game @ 12:30 a.m. and the 14 year old who was shot by the police officer this week, I am perplexed. In both of these incidents the victims were also Black. If I was transplanted into this country, specifically this city with no background and I read these articles I would think that is okay for Blacks to rape, murder, robbed other Blacks, as no says anything about that. The 14 year old used that BB gun to intimidate and rob another young black person. I don't hear the outrage in that. The 12 year old found guilty of murder should have been at home at a time when he took someone's life. Rev. Meeks, Jesse Jackson, Paul Jakes.... I could go on, should be in the news and sending the message that black on black crime is not okay. Rev. Meeks is quick to attack what "white" people are doing to our community. He boast of a congregation with a membership in excess of 10,000 people, how many daycares/preschools has he opened? With this venue, why isn't he attacking teen preganancy, school expulsions/dropouts, gang violence, drugs and violence in the community. When I saw the coalition of black clergyman and alderman fighting the Big Box legislation I was sad for a few reasons. The first being it appears that many of these so called leaders are bought and paid for. Why should anyone in the United States of America work everyday and still live below the poverty level? Why is the bar set so low? Secondly, the pure economics of these retailers tells the story, if Target and Walmart were not profitable in the city, they would not be looking to build stores. We have to take control of lives, our children and be responsible to ourselves.

MITCHELL COMMENT:

Only one point of clarification. Rev. Meeks has both a school and a daycare center. His congregation has been involved in a door-to-door campaign to encourage parents to get their children to school. His congregation also serves as mentors at local schools.

Did ya not notice yesterdays pic of the police officer taunting the young man,not one paper made mention of this photo.That is what they do, they dare people to fool with them. You can't do any thing I am the police. The whole system sucks. I read your column all the time you are a fair and honest person. thank you for listening.
Charlotte

Where were the parents and why was this kid running in the streets with a BB gun that looks like a 9mm. Okay, having said that, when the police tell you to stop, stop. End of story. The cops are authorized to shoot to kill you. Period. Where are the aldermen when it is time for summer jobs, where are the community activists when kids are running wild in the schools and the teachers have to take half the class to calm them down, they are absent. Time to stop blaming the cops and look at some personal responsibility here. You cannot run the streets like a lunatic with the intention to harm and expect the police to stand by. They are trained to take you down if need be.

Bravo, ed bone!!!
The "tired of" segment of
your commentstells it just like it is - If as a group we devoted ourselves to banishing these societal ills one by one - we wouldn
not be embarassed by a mix
of poorly-trained barely literate "preachers" on the evening news. Where are
the communty centers, the scholarships, the school volunteers that these churches could help to establish - Their "march" was laughable considering the boy had a "toy" (?) gun
and they were reduced to a bunch of silly old men getting face time on tv

Time now for truth and it hurts. . .

You need to have proof before you make accusations against cops. What proof do you have that Burge tortured hundreds of suspects? Are you taking the word of a cop killer like Andrew Wilson and other ex cons who had rap sheets as long as your arm before they ever met Burge? Crying police brutality is the oldest trick in the book for criminals to claim to get themselves out of trouble. And how do you know those cops yelled racial slurs at that west side incident involving that dog attack? Just because some black residents said it happened? Oh yeah, I forgot, blacks never lie about racism accusations(yeah, right). Blacks are reaping what they sowed by making the racism cry a part of their everyday life, even if the racist incident didn't occur. That's why most whites don't believe the Burge accusations, that's why most whites don't believe the cops yelling racist slurs in the street. It's the boy who cried wolf theory, so you only have yourselves to blame for the apathy of white people and white elected officials. If you didn't turn the concept of racism into a joke, maybe you would get some support and action from us, but you blew it.

MITCHELL COMMENT;

Read the Burge report, then get back to me.

I just want to say, "Thank God," that young man is going to pull though! I just hope that young man comes to realize he needs to, "pull away," from all the negative forces around him. I myself lived in Cabrini Green in the 60's and it was a large part of my life until folks I knew of moved up, down and on to better things? We had gangs back then, but not the sick breed that's, running ramped today! In my day, you talk about a it takes a village to raise a child? If a child did something wrong, the child got disiplined from school, the old lady everybody knew in the neighborhood and god help you when you got home. Adults did not go against other adults when a child does something wrong he/she knew it was wrong by every wrath suffered. Today, it's the opposite time 20, when a child does something wrong, 'It's everybody elses,' fault but theirs. I'm a baby boomer and I know for a fact this generation walking around here today, wreaking havoc, breeding misery, blaming everybody else, "But themselves," for the shape there lives are in, is too blame for a lot, mainly shape they're own life is in. What scary about it, "They are lying around breeding like old house cats," then want's to turn around and put there responsiblities off on everybody else. Low Income my A!#! They were Low Income standing in one spot, so that's an excuse, "To not have to stand up, take responsiblity for there foolish mistakes and deliver themselves! We are seeing the aftermath of what's done & not done! We have a 13 year old child, not knowing any better than to point guns, or what even looks like a gun at law enforcement. If that young man had been, "taught better," he'd have knew better. Then to have the "sorry," father to even have in print, "Admitting, he has bad kids, but his Jr., is not one of them," man if that's the case, we'd better hold on to our seat's because the bumpy ride has not started yet! What I'm trying to say, is, "Black People, African American's," whatever you prefer to be called? Addressed as? Please wake up and cut out the madness, please. It's said, being born black is a strike against a person, if that's true? Let's stop bringing more odd's against ourselves and our other brother's and sisters. P-L-E-A-S-E stop the madness! As far as "Law Enforcement Officers," goes, they are a whole other story and there are some one does not have to point guns at, all you got to do is not be white, that I can attest to from experience. I've never been arrested, etc., however, the incidents I've had with certain mentalities of law enforcement officers, both "Black & White." I can say, from my experience(s) the black cops were worst than the white cop's x 10! They were rude, obnoxious and plan scary. What I mean by scary is the fact of individuals like that is, "Allowed Legally," to bare fire arms. I feel the protesters pain from my own experiences. It sure don't take the shooting of a 13 year old child regardless of the circumstances to feel that!

I completely understand that the less-than-stellar history of Chicago cops in black neighborhoods has a lot to do with the outrage in Cabrini-Green.

but I have to wonder, would people there be equally as outraged if it was a black cop who did the shooting?

in other words, is this an issue of pent-up rage in general, or really rage over this particular incident?

MITCHELL COMMENT:

I think it is a little of both.

You cease to amaze me Mary. I enjoy reading your columns and how you express your points but are you not stereotyping here?

Because a handful of white cops mistreat or beat black suspects does this erode all white cops?

If you turn the tables around and you have a majority of blacks commiting crimes does this mean that all black people are the same?

MITCHELL COMMENT:

My column should not be interpreted as saying that all white cops beat and mistreat black citizens. My column was an attempt to explain why some black people do not trust cops -- white and black.

The post by Ed Bone was one of the most truthful I have ever read. We all have to resist the temptation of lumping people together whether it is the police or a race of people.
I read two quotes from this boy's father that said " I did'nt raise him to be like me" and "I have bad kids but he is not one of them" That in itself tells you a little about what was going on with that kid.
Ed, while not black, I am latino but I am with you on this one. We are tired. We have way too much violence in our communities. Our children are preying on our children and elderly. We see it everyday. It has become part of the landscape and it is given a pass because no one wants to admit it is thier child doing it and they do not want to take responsiblity. But when the Police shoot someone we are surprised and outraged? We should be more outraged that we are killing each other. I do not know what happened on the street that day, I was not there. I hope for the family and the Police Officer involved that they find peace. I hope we as people of ALL ethnic origins, black or white find peace.

Mary here is a passage and quote from an article in the Suntimes wednesday and I think it goes a long way toward the reason for poor race relations between Blacks and Whites.

'Community . . . is fed up'

One man allegedly spit on an officer during the march and was sprayed with Mace by police trying to arrest him near Scott and Larrabee, which brought forward the protesters with the broom handles and bats.

And when Thomas Strong, Ellis' uncle, questioned why no one from the department had come to speak to them about what happened, one woman shouted: "Because he's black, and he lives in Cabrini-Green!"

"This a community that is fed up,'' said Dierdre Brewster, a community activist who organized the march. "It's obvious."

Whites and hispanics in my office (3 whites 2 Hispanics) are wondering what is going on 2 black youths attempt to rob someone the police try to stop it. The police ask the 2 to drop their weapons and lay on the ground one of the youths refuses to drop his weapon and gets shot. Tragic that the youth was a teenager and shot but, to whites and hispanics its even more tragic that a fourteen year old has the means temperment and anger to commit an armed robbery.
The outrage is not being directed at the youths actions, lack of parental guidance and/or supervision nor apparently is the black community fed up with armed robbery no they are fed up with police action to protect themselves and residents of the community who then threatens those very police with bats and brooms.

Blame the cops when they aren't in the neighborhood, blame the cops when they are in the neighborhood, blame the cops when they arrest criminals blame the cops when they don't arrest criminals. They attack the cops threaten the cops and disrespect the cops and the residents of Cabrini are outraged?
Talk to some of the officers and firemen for that matter and feel their desperation and exasperation for the futility of their policing and life saving efforts in Cabrini.

Patrick

MITCHELL COMMENT:

I talked to the police spokeswoman and she says there was no robbery attempt or robbery. Apparently, there was a fight between two groups of boys--not a robbery,

It is my understanding that the uncle of the boy that was shot is a former gang member with 33 convictions on his rap sheet. Maybe if he would have spent some quality time with his nephew all of this could have been avoided in the first place. Who better to explain to his young nephew how NOT to behave. It's Common Sense 101. DON'T point an illegal gun at a police officer. The uncle seems to be putting a lot of effort into this protest. It's a shame he didn't put more effort into his nephew's life before this incident!

As a former resident of Chicago, IL, I recall longing to relocate to another city or state to escape a combination of both rogue police and anti-social rejects which drove me from the city I once loved. I'd experienced to many incidents during adolescence, where I was accosted by police for resembling some alleged homicidal teen or openly harrassed for walking out of my mother's home to either run errands for her, going to and from school, on my way to a church function, or to visit friends. I strongly believe the Police are not the innocent here. It was reported the young teen was an A-B student, of course this is disregarded because police don't shoot students with good grades which may indicate a person of high morals and good character. You don't acheive such grades in that type of environment unless you have a good head on your shoulders. What I chose to believe with the limited evidence presented is a child who used bad judgement and an officer who made a horrible decision. It is no hidden secret that Black life is valued less in this country. So the officer will receive desk duty or administrative leave and a family may lose a loved one. Yes, black people are fed up and the officers who've sworn to protect them are fed up as well. It's as if the police mentality is, "Let's take'em (black people)all out. We'll sort'em (law abiding blacks from the outlaws and criminal blacks) out later! My past experiences will not allow me to side with the officers. Fact. Officers are aware of the people and environment inwhich they patrol. Though officers may not know every resident by name, the officers are familiar with the faces. The Police will not admit it, but I'll guarantee you the officers more than likely were familiar with the young man, which leads me to believe the incident could have been handled less violently. This incident wreaks of an impending police coverup. History has taught us that regardless of the facts the police will distort them to ensure they have a favorable out come.

I agree that blacks have a mistrust for law enforcement.

In 2005, I was assaulted in Oak Park in broad daylight by 2 plain clothes detectives.

They pulled me over because they thought I said a negative remark about the police. I was listening to headphones at the time and was not even aware of them until they parked on a curb and ran out toward me. I did not know that detectives routinely pulled over walking pedistrians to issue tickets. But instead of just issuing a ticket, they assaulted me.

They bent my wrist back so far that I thought it would pop off, drug me across the ground and yelled countless racial slurs and curse words at me while trying to provoke me to react. I did not react, I am not a big person and I thought they were going to pull me into their car and take me off to beat me.

I am a woman that weighs less than 135 pounds. The detectives assumed that I was a teenager as many do, because I look very young and was wearing sports attire at the time. However, I am a 37 year old professional person. My mistake was calling the Oak Park police dept. to file a complaint, hoping for assistance. I was even transferred to the person that ended up being the incident investigator when I called 911. Yeah, I called 911 crying when I got home. After a long time, I realized that he'd swept the incident under the rug, after informing me that they had dropped the fake public profanity charges against me and that I would not have to go to court.

I don't know what the statute of limitation is on police brutality, however I would like to pursue this. Mainly because these incidents have not gotten any better. If we don't stand up and complain, the public will assume that it only happens to "bad" blacks. No, it can happen to CEOs too.

If you can assist me, please email me back at yggftblk@yahoo.com

Thanks.

MITCHELL REPLY:

This sounds like a case for a good lawyer.

Ms. Mitchelle. I'm no dummy! If I was as cop and I saw some idiot carrying "a gun" with reports of robberies in the area, I'd shoot him/her too. RACE BE DARNED!!!I'm Black. I don't live my life through other Black people!

Mr Ed Bone I commend you and agree with you whole heartedly. I was having a discussion with relatives earlier this week and we were discussing the Burge incident and I was explaining to them that while most black people abhor what Burge did, they are feeling somewhat ambivilent because they are tired of being held captive by neighborhood terrorists that have taken over entire blocks, communities and smaller cities most of which are predominately black. Ms. Mitchell and I live in the same western suburb and I have to tell you, everytime my childen leave home to walk to a friends house, go to the store or even sit on the front porch my heart can not rest because I don't know when or if some idiot thug will pull out a gun and start shooting. Let's face it, these problems are not happening in predominately white neighborhoods and maybe once these terrorits are no longer a problem and we can live in our communities in peace we can fully focus our attention on things like police misconduct and other social ills in our society but for now I am TIRED of community meetings that never lead to any changes, I am tired of marches that lead to no where, I am tired of black people loosing their minds when they are mistreated by some white perso