Southeast Atlantans Rally Against Crime

Worried Atlanta residents rally against crime

The grass-roots effort that grew from the death of Grant Park bar worker John Henderson continues to evolve.

Monday night, about 175 people showed up at a rally in the heart of Little Five Points, held by newly formed advocacy group Atlantans Together Against Crime (ATAC).

It is the first in what the group plans to be a series of monthly rallies held in different local communities burdened by crime.

ATAC co-founder Kyle Keyser, armed with a megaphone, led the crowd in chants while standing on two milk cartons in the Little Five Points square.

Between chants, protesters stood along Moreland Avenue, waving signs like “Honk to Stop Crime” at motorists who drove past, many of whom returned the favor by honking their horns.

Even some Atlanta City Council members, Mary Norwood and Kwanza Hall, showed up, too.

“It speaks volumes to the concern” of a rise in crime, Hall said. “The concern, it resonates. It’s a real issue.”

Tyler O’Neill, 43, of Inman Park attended the rally because he believes something needs to be done about crime in Atlanta — a concern that many have echoed since Henderson’s murder on Jan. 7 in a robbery at a Grant Park bar.

And he doesn’t believe the city will do anything to improve police services unless the community presses the issue.

“We need to speak up,” O’Neill said. “It’s not going to happen. You need to get on the streets to make it happen.”

I am attempting to rationalize this for a second.  I don't want to throw cold water on it, however.

Where as some people make protests against "guns" along the pathway to end homicide in their community.   And other people, motivated by racial animous might protest against "Black thugs" or "White police men" - I am attempting to understand a rally against "Crime".

Is a rally against "crime" a "one off" argument like the fight against "illegal guns"?   The gun did not commit the crime - a person did.  

In this case a person also commited the "crime".  Despite this the crowd is focusing on the CITY and what they might do in the way of police services to keep them safe.  The only problem is that the Atlanta budget deficit has now grown to $60 million.  Chances are they are not going to receive much relief from these official sources.

I suggested previously that all of this is taking place in a backdrop of class and racial displacement.  The new residents - mostly middle class and White are displacing the old population of Grant Park and the area south of Little Five Points which is mostly poor and Black.  In as much as you have two ships passing in the night - there are bound to be some conflicts at times.

Where as no doubt both of these groups likely cling to "progressive" principles - I don't hear the classical progressive approaches being talked about by anyone.  Where is the proposal for a joint community center where both groups can come together in the spirit of community and begin to relate to each other?   A person who knows you is far less inclined to hold you at gun point.  In fact upon detecting their needs (or character deficiencies) early that other person could intervein much earlier with offers of assistance. 

Instead of a series of protests there needs to be a community sponsered initiative forward.