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African-Americans Demand Change
For many African-Americans living in east side neighborhoods in McKinney,
life and conditions have not changed much since the days of segregated
schools, water fountains, bathrooms and lunch counters.
“We are concerned because the rights of African-Americans are being violated
and trampled upon here,” said Evelyn Smith, who has lived in McKinney since
1969. “When you speak out against wrongdoing, you are either harassed,
arrested or treated rough by the police.”
Smith, and other residents, contends they have been the targets of racial
profiling, harassment and undue pressure from police trying to solve the
murders of four people killed in an execution-style slaying earlier this
year.
The frustration of police and the unsolved murders have caused other
crackdowns in the African-American community including stiffer curfews,
increased traffic stops and more surveillance and searches of residents,
including children living in the neighborhood surrounding a public housing
complex.
According to Smith, she was arrested on criminal trespassing and searched
for walking the streets and videotaping and monitoring several
African-Americans encounters with police.
Ruby Howard, whose son is a seventh-grade honor student, has also been a
victim of the police crackdown.
The 12-year old was questioned and searched at a bus stop recently by police
and accused of being a look out for drug dealers just because he had a
device that resembled a walkie-talkie. The device was nothing more than a
radio he won at Bible school.
“They are harassing good people, innocent law abiding citizens” she said.
“We want justice, we want to be treated fairly and want this harassment to
stop and will not quit until we get answers and action.”
Another incident sparking community reactions involved the arrest and
treatment of Chaz Jones, a young African-American activist who police
allegedly accused of making threats against police.
He was arrested on a peace bond and jailed. The case was later heard in
court and Jones was released on a recognizance bond and ordered to have no
contact or communication with police. A short time later, police confronted
him on a retaliation allegation. The case is still pending.
“We feel the squeeze is on in the African-American community,” said Jesse
Jones, father of Chaz Jones. “The city has a black eye over the murders and
are taking it out on the African-American community.”
Jones feel police need to be positive role models that provide examples in
the community, not bullying residents, abusing authority or using
intimidation.
In another case, a 16-year old African-American male was given a ticket for
riding his bicycle through the neighborhood with no light after he left a
nearby housing complex.
“It’s the 1950s and 60’s all over,” Smith said. “We are in a struggle for
justice and fair treatment.”
Some think police are blaming the black community for the increasing number
of alleged drug dealers and activity going on in the community.
“We are not fighting the police,” Smith said. “We are minding our business
and acting within our rights and protecting our rights, but we are
considered a threat for doing it.”
Still other African-Americans feel the white community is strong-arming
leading blacks in an effort to intimidate the community.
“It’s like modern day slavery,” said Tomika Seagraves, whose husband has
been persecuted for allegedly sharing ideas about ways to improve and
revitalize the African-American community in the city. “There is no one here
to protect us and that opens it up for injustices that allow us to be picked
on, pushed around, mistreated and knocked down.”
Other concerns African-Americans expressed center on the lack of voice and
representation in city government.
“We march all we want, but cannot win the fight or fight the police with no
voice,” said the Rev. Cecil Mack. “We must learn the power of voting and use
it to get the representation we need on city council and city hall to get
things done.”
Currently, 21-percent of the city’s population is African-American. Yet,
there are no African-American council members and only 7-percent of the
city’s police force is African-American.
Residents are also concerned about the lack of representation and how city
leaders have neglected development of eastside communities, the high
unemployment rate among African-Americans and the highest poverty plaguing
neighborhoods in Collin County.
Howard, Mack, Smith, Jones and others want to see changes and are working
with neighbors, civil rights activists and now the U.S. Justice Department
to form a community neighborhood association to address the current problems
with the city on a regular basis.
The community held its first meeting with city officials, police and local
ministers late last week hoping to air out problems about harassment and
open dialog they hope will reduce the confrontations with police and bring
to attention the real pressing issues and concerns of residents.
“We feel it is the first steps of what we hope will be a healing process,”
said the Rev. Ronald White. “Changes are needed and our goal is to fight to
help the African-American community help itself and make sure that police
and city leaders hear, are sensitive to these concerns and respect these
residents rights.”
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