A Tale of two Richmonds?
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Posted By: Rudolph Hickman on November 23, 2011 Why is there a higher police presence in Brookbury, where there is little to no crime than in East Highland Park, the scene of a wild west shootout on Monday? Could it be because Brookbury is where Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones lives? Brookbury is also the community where Occupy Richmond protesters are camped out on the lawn of Richmond Free Press Editor/Publisher Raymond Boone. The group has been surrounded by Richmond Police since their arrival at Boone's home which is next door to the home of Mayor Jones. One of the most salient facts surrounding the Brookbury occupation by both protesters and Richmond Police is there have been no reports of criminal activity of any kind since the camp-out began. So why the significant police presence. Is it anticipatory - a sign of pro-active thinking? And if indeed city officials are capable of pro-active strategy development, why does that strategy only lend itself to Brookbury and not East Highland Park which sadly is known for criminal activity of various kinds? Yesterday, Editor/Publisher Boone was served with a notice informing of violations of various zoning ordinances associated with having Occupy Richmond camp out on his property. While Mr. Boone indicated he believes that Mayor Jones initiated the citations, Tammy Hawley, who is the Mayor's Press Secretary, said that the citations were initiated by residents of Brookbury. For years residents of East Highland Park have been pleading with city officials to take action to abate the criminal activity that runs rampant in that East End neighborhood. So far, their pleas have gone largely unaddressed. Had the police and other public officials responded with the same level of immediacy and pro-active thinking that they have proven themselves capable of in the Brookbury affair, the shootout that occurred Monday in East Highland Park most likely would not have happened. Perhaps we can just chalk it up to the tale of two communities with different outcomes. But why stop the analysis there? On July 28, 1967, then President Lyndon Baines Johnson appointed an 11-member Commission, later referred to as The Kerner Commission. The commission was established to investigate the root causes of riots in Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California (Watts) and Newark, New Jersey The Commission's final report, known as the Kerner Report was issued on February 29, 1968, its most noted passage stated: "Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—-separate and unequal." Richmond leaders including the mayor and city council would do well to remember the lessons of the Kerner Report, lest we find: There are two Richmond's, separate and unequal If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Rudolph Hickman
Owner, Rudolph Hickman Photography Virginia Union University class of 1974 Member Since August 2005 |
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