If you’re a student in one of Baltimore’s public schools, then gang activity and attacks on teachers, your fellow students and, especially, yourself are about the last thing you need.
But do you tell Baltimore school police if you’re the victim of an attack, or witness one? During a summer meeting of the school system’s steering committee on safety, members put that question to a representative of the Associated Student Congress. The young man told them that students fear retaliation for reporting incidents of violence.
Mayor Sheila Dixon and City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake had dropped in on the meeting. Rawlings-Blake asked the young man if students might call if an anonymous tip line were available. He replied in the affirmative.
So Monday, Rawlings-Blake introduced a resolution for a “hotline” to report violence, threats and gang activity in city schools.
Gang activity is on the increase in public schools, and not just in Baltimore. Harford County officials found it necessary to prohibit certain types of dress associated with gangs and now include a space on incident reports for gang activity. Resource officers in Harford schools identify and deter gang activities by engaging suspected gang members on a personal level.
Bill Toohey, a spokesman for the Baltimore County Police Department, said resource officers are a “major asset in keeping the lid on gang activity” in county schools.
Officers for the city school system are assigned to most schools, but have not had as much impact as in Baltimore and Harford counties. Maybe the “stop snitching” culture that inspired at least two underground local DVDs — and others nationwide — is to deeply rooted in city schools.
Rawlings-Blake’s new hotline would replace the current 10-digit anonymous tip line. She wants a three-digit number — similar to 911 and 311. At hearings later this year, City Council members can hear witnesses tell whether a text-messaging system — now used in Chicago schools — can be integrated into the new hotline system.
Do it. Victims aren’t snitching when they pop a thug. They’re just using the only weapon they have.
WEB EXTRAS
Click these links for more information
Video: Street Fight In Baltimore With Gangs (Witnessed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HStl0ljdx2g&feature=related
Humanities magazine, May/June 2008
http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2008-05/gangs.html
Bloomberg School of Public Health gang violence reduction plan
http://www.jhsph.edu/preventyouthviolence/Gang%20Violence%20Reduction%20Plan
Bureau of Justice Assistance
http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/bja/gang/pfv.html
