Hip Hoppers Get Arrested Fighting Prisons
http://www.daveyd.com/FullArticles\articleN838.asp
Lots of folks on the Hip Hop front have been stepping up their political game, so to speak. This was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt yesterday [7/24/01] in the city of Oakland. More then 200 headz from a number of Bay Area Hip Hop organizations including Youth Force Coalition, Books Not Bars, and Let's Get Free, as well as a number of local recording artists, showed up to a hastily called emergency meeting put together by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Many of the people who came through took a day off from their summer jobs to voice their opposition. The issue was Alameda County's attempt to build what is being described as a super prison for youth. This facility would be the largest one of its kind in the entire country. It would be larger and cost more money per capita the juvenile facilities housed in New York, Chicago and other big cities. This super prison for kids would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars to build and maintain. The Hip Hop community showed in force at the Supervisor's meeting, wanting to know why some of that money couldn't be put towards programs that would help direct kids away from jails. One person suggested that the money could be put towards a super counseling center for kids, so they could get help with their problems. Someone else suggested that the money be put toward job training programs and support services.
Three of the five Alameda County supervisors who support this new prison pointed to decaying conditions inside the 50 year old juvenile hall facility in the city of San Leandro which sits right outside Oakland. They also noted that the current site sits on an earthquake fault line. Hence their solution is to move the hall 50 miles away in rural suburban area called Dublin and turn it into a state of the art super prison for kids. It should also be noted that one of the supporting supervisors pointed out that this new and improved facility would have no provisions or resources to enhance and encourage rehabilitation.
During the yesterday's meetings, one of the organizers, Van Jones, spoke passionately to the county supervisors. He encouraged them to do what they ask young people to do, which is to stand up to peer pressure and not do the wrong thing just because someone throws money in front of them. He told the supervisors to stand up to the pressure of the powerful prison lobby. He also reminded them that just because the county received a ton of money to build this super prison, did not mean they had to go through with building it. The packed chambers enthusiastically cheered. He also took the supervisors to task for holding a meeting at the last minute so as to avoid public input around this project.
Another speaker, was a young West Oakland cat named YT, He explained how bad things were in his high school [McClymonds High, where MC Hammer went to school]. He wanted to know how come the county could find millions of dollars for a super prison for his classmates but could not find money to fix up his school. He pointed out that the bad conditions in his school hadn't changed since his older cousins and uncles attended. His words were sobering.
Perhaps the meeting's most shining moment came when Los of the rap group Company of Prophets spoke. He was still fuming at the bad treatment he and others had received prior to the meeting. When headz showed up early that morning, they were greeted by baton weilding sheriffs who attempted to intimidate them. Initially they were told they could not come to the meeting because there were too many people. They became incensed when they saw older white people and business people being allowed to cut the line and go through unbothered. Some of the youth who were vocal about their desire to attend, found themselves being pushed and shoved by the sheriffs. The officers were forced to stop when the media showed up with cameras and tape recorders. One of the deputies actually tried to lay hands on me, until one of his colleagues who recognized me, let him know I was on the radio. At that point, I was then treated with respect and told I could go through some private entrance. Only when the news cameras were shining on the officers and a couple of lawyers spoke out did the deputies allow the large group to go in. It was from this upsetting experience that Los drew upon when he spoke. His words reflected the simmering anger many people were present felt from being mistreated. He started off by asking which officer in the room was willing to pull out his bullyclub and start acting bad with all the people in the room watching. No one moved. Los then kicked a dope freestyle about police brutality and prisons. All the time he was rapping, he kept staring at the deputy who had tried to swing on him earlier. It was amazing to hear a freestyle being kicked at a county supervising meeting... the supervisors sure seemed surprised.
Unfortunately, three of the supervisors, Scott Haggerty, Alice Lai-Bitker and Gail Steele did not embrace a proposal that was introduced by their colleague, supervisor Keith Carson and supported by Nate Miley. Carson kicked off the meeting by introducing a proposal that basically called for everyone to slow down and for the county not to rush into building the new prison. He wanted an independent study to determine if such a large juvenile facility was needed. Many of the Hip Hop organizations were willing to support Carson's proposal. They felt it would be a great place to start a dialogue and would allow a process for those who would be most impacted by this to offer some input. When Carson's fellow supervisors rejected the proposal in the face of all that proposition, folks got heated. Headz were not trying to hear all that and let their disappointment be heard loud and clear. People began chanting 'Books Not Bars' as many of the Hip Hoppers staged a sit-in right there inside the council chambers. It was at that point sheriff deputies got brutal.
On the footage we got, you see over-aggressive police manhandling cats. Headz were being thrown to the ground and handcuffs being applied so tightly that one guy's hands turned blue. All in all, nine people got arrested. It was sad to see some of the supervisors go for the money and not the kids. A solemn promise was made publicly by protestors that those supervisors who voted for the building of the prison would not have a job next election, and that their cowardly actions would be exposed far and wide. One of the first courses of action that will be taken is a huge Hip Hop Rally and Concert in front of Oakland's City Hall [14th & broadway] this Saturday July 28th. Called the Summer Jam to End the Prison Scam, more than a dozen local Hip Hop groups ranging from Company of Prophets to Aya de Leon have agreed to come and perform. Even Mad Lion, who has a show the night before, has been contacted and is trying to see if this event will fit in his schedule. Dozens of organizations will be out in force passing out information and making sure folks are aware of the madness that's going on with the county supervisors. Folks are absolutely determined to do everything within their power to not have this superprison built....For more info call Rachel Jackson at (415) 951-4844 x28, Fela Thomas Youth Force Coalition: (510) 451-5466 x301 or Van Jones Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, (415) 951-4844x25.
One a side note...As young person after young person spoke, I kept wondering where were all those people who show up at conventions and seminars complaining about the Hip Hop community being apathetic. Perhaps they were waiting to read about this huge turnout in their local newspapers. The sad thing was, even though the Oakland Tribune is literally blocks away from the County office, the paper didn't cover this [at least in their online editions]. Even though nine people were arrested in the council chambers, one would not know this from reading the local paper...hmm. Why wasn't it covered? It's four am as I'm writing this piece so I can't call anyone to find out. At first, I thought the Oakland Tribune wasn't there, but I noticed stories about the contentious redistricting meeting that followed right after the arrests. There was no way they couldn't have known about the vocal opposition to the building of this super prison. Even some of the local TV stations covered the event.
What was interesting to note, while political actions taken by the Hip Hop community were ignored, what the Oakland Tribune did cover was the ransacking of a 7-11 store over the weekend after a party. So while 200 headz showing up at a county supervisor meeting in the middle of a hot summer day gets no newspaper coverage, an incident that involved a handful of people that took place three days ago is sitting there for all to read. Thank God I have a radio show and this newsletter to help get the word out. I make mention of this because, it's important that folks understand how lack of coverage has a snowball effect. Many TV news shows and talk radio shows get their ideas from the local papers. The opportunity to get such an important issue out to the masses for public discourse is lost. Even the opportunity to change the false perception that many have about Hip Hop and young people in general is omitted from the equation. Its likely that some TV newscast or radio talk show will pick up the Tribune read about a 7-11 being looted and they will in turn do a show about how bad youth are. They'll never know that 200 Hip Hoppers spoke out at a supervisor's meeting.
In closing, I will add that the building of this super prison for youth is the continuation of a disturbing trend here in the Golden State. It is one where many elected officials are addicted to the financial incentives and political strength derived from punishing and scapegoating youth. California is ranked # 41 in money spent on education and ranked # 1 in money spent on prisons. All this is happening at a time when youth crimes in Cali as well as across the country are at all-time lows. Please believe it folks... prisons are big business in Cali, and those who are controlling the purse strings seem to have their eyes on the large number of black and brown youth who now make up the majority of the state's population. What took place yesterday afternoon at the Alameda County Supervisors' meeting falls in line with all the other Draconian measures being passed by some of these politicians.
Over the past five years, Cali has been hit the passage of the infamous Prop 21 bill, which would lock up 14-year-olds in adult prisons and give the police all sorts of extraordinary wire tapping and surveillance powers for suspected gang members. The bill also allows law enforcement to use their discretion to classify three or more people standing around, dressed in similar clothing, as a gang. Anyone convicted as a gang member under all the sweeping new laws included in Prop 21 would have to register like a sex offender. Failure to register would result in automatic 18 months in jail. This bill came at the heels of the three strikes law. Shortly after Prop 21 passed, Cali residents were hit with another blow when Democratic Governor Gray Davis refused to sign a bill that would force the police to collect racial data, which is needed to end unfair police profiling and the phenomenon known as 'driving while black or brown' -- the very real risk of being pulled over by the cops because of your race. If that's not enough, another infamous Cali resident, Ward Connerly, (known for leading the charge to end affirmative action with the passage of Prop 209) is trying to put a proposition on the ballot that would forbid any state agency from collecting racial data. He says he wants a colorblind society. However, should it pass, it would be virtually impossible to prove racial discrimination because collecting racial data would be forbidden. The onslaught has been relentless. But at each turn, these measures have been met with stiff opposition, especially in Alameda County. The latest situation will not dampen anyone's spirits. If anything, I think it will increase everyone's resolve. Mark my words, those who voted for this superprison will pay a political price for their greed and folly.
Major props are in order to Run DMC. While Hip Hoppers in Oakland are fighting against prison building, Rev Run, DMC and Jam Master J are over in London trying to help end racial violence. Over the past few months there have been some serious racial clashes between whites and south Asians. An anti-racism concert called Respect 2001 was the outgrowth of the troubles. Run DMC have been asked to headline what will be a free event. Many of the city's elected officials will be on hand.
Rev Run's older brother Russell Simmons is taking his political activities a step higher. As promised during the recent Hip Hop Summit, A Hip Hop Political Action Committee has been formed. Called the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, the organization will be headquartered within the offices of The Source Magazine in New York City. There will be field offices in Washington DC and in Los Angeles. The board members will include Minister Benjamin (Chavis) Muhammad, who will serve as executive director. Other members include, Reverend Al Sharpton, Sean P-Diddy Combs, Source Magazine owner Dave Mays, and labels heads Kevin Lyles [Def Jam], Kedar Massenburg [Motown], Steve Rifkind [Loud], Steve Stoute [Interscope].
This new political action committee will no doubt attempt to fill a void and bridge a gap that currently exists between the traditional Civil Rights organizations and the Hip Hop community these labels reach. The HHSAN will be lobbying politicians on various issues and will donate money to their campaigns. They will also host a panel discussion this September during the Black Congressional Caucus Week in Washington DC. While the forming of this Political Action Committee is good, it's interesting to note that the board members are mostly record label owners. Hopefully the committee is expanded to included artists who are on these labels and their unique interests and perspectives will be voiced and reflected within the advocacy work of the HHSAN. In any case, for those who have been sitting on the side of the road trying to avoid politics, be ready...cause things are gonna heat up.
===== Kevin Dean Buffalo, NY ICQ: 8616001 http://www.yaysoft.com
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