Earlier this week, an article was published on WREG (an NBC affiliate in Memphis)’s website, which reported the Memphis police’s alleged crackdown on crime in the Binghampton area of Memphis.

Tuesday (January 26), court injunctions were placed on two gangs, the Vicelords and the Grape Street Crips.

To the uninformed masses, this would appear to be a noble deed committed by the Memphis police. On the contrary, gang injunctions have had a notorious history of singling out innocent Black males (just because they randomly knew of a gang member, for example), and often gives municipalities in urban areas across the U.S. reason to gentrify traditionally Black neighborhoods.

We will continue to keep you informed of further developments as it pertains to this story.

B. Clark

The initiative, which was authorized by Congress in 2006, states on its website that it “is a unique, creative, and highly successful, initiative that encourages persons wanted for non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a faith-based or other neutral setting”

Last week (Sept. 18-19), dozens of people showed up at the church before the event’s 9:00 A.M. opening, in hopes of having their slates cleaned by law enforcement, which included district attorneys and judges who were on hand to participate in the event as well. Only after confessing their crimes were the predominantly Black participants then subject to “favorable consideration for surrendering” by the law enforcement officials on hand.

According to News 2 (WKRN in Nashville), close to 30 people had come close to surrender, with half of them doing so within the first 30 minutes of the event…and this all occurred on the first day of a two day event. Dr. William Harris, pastor of the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, said that 563 people turned themselves in during 2007’s Fugitive Safe Surrender program. Law enforcement also highly encouraged individuals to turn in any firearms and drugs that they may have in their possession as well.

What’s interesting about this story is that Black churches will eagerly participate in initiatives such as Fugitive Safe Surrender where many more Melanoid people find themselves being railroaded into incarceration, yet refuse having anything to do with addressing the roots of Black Society’s issue (among a plethora of other issues) of mass incarceration in the first place.

Not only were people encouraged to turn themselves in, they were also compensated for doing so. The reward you ask? A $10 gift card to a local gas station (Mapco).

Here is a link to the original story.

B. Clark