Neighborhood juvenile vandalism/hate speech situation.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Our friends and neighbors just told me about a developing situation in our neighborhood. Another neighbor kid (junior high age) and his friend made a swastika in the snow in a Jewish neighbor's yard, and wrote the "n" word on the house, yard or car of one or more African American neighbors (I don't know whether this was in the snow or with what medium).

Anyway there have been apparently a number of eggings and mailbox bashings in our block (including right next to our mailbox) thought due to the same 2 kids but I don't know what proof or witnesses exist. The swastika incident was apparently witnessed by the homeowner (apparently the kids said "Merry Christmas" to the homeowner when he caught them, as they were leaving).

Homeowner called the police who showed up and apparently told this guy that it was free speech or protected speech or some such. When asked about trespassing the cop said something like it wasn't trespassing unless they had specifically told an officer of the law that they didn't want that person there, and didn't pursue the matter further.

My friend and neighbor who told me this has had dealings with the parents of one of the kids and apparently doesn't feel that approaching through the parents is likely to be successful.

I told him the first thing was to establish proof of who was doing some of this, either eyewitness and/or photographic. Then, my personal feeling is that the right thing is to first approach the parents and give them at least a chance to try to address it within their home before contacting the police. However if kids have gotten this far out of control by junior high school age I think they are probably rotten apples (particularly if they have such racial hate) and the parental approach is unlikely to be successful--either the parents don't believe it/don't care/don't want to do anything, or they are a big part of the problem why the kids are like this in the first place. Or even if they want to try and fix it, it might be too late. But I feel the basic principle should be to try this approach first, depending on the severity of what is happening of course.

As far as law enforcement, even if the local deputy dawgs are not inclined to pursue this, if there is a large number of complaints for every incident, they will be forced to make some response even if they are not inclined to do so, where they might not for a single complaint, or even two. Especially if there is hard evidence of what is happening and who is doing it.

This is in the north Dallas area of TX by the way.

Any thoughts or experiences on how to approach something like this?

[hickman1937]

1. Get a video camera

And be vigilent. Sounds like more than one neighbor is being victimized so maybe they all need to get in contact. Racists have been emboldened by the support they're getting from the White House. This is only going to get worse. These two kids are testing the water.

[madrchsod]

2. jesus christ!

call the feds- call the local jewish and black organizations. these kids will only get worse and screw the parents-they either don`t care what their kids are doing or they encourage it by being racist scumbags themselves. these little nazi scumbags need to pay and pay hard. we are a pretty big world wide website,i`m sure we can get something done. if you don`t get any responces post tomorrow or monday.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. This has been done by some of the people involved.

[NYC]

3. A swastika in someone else's yard is free speech?

...Homeowner called the police who showed up and apparently told this guy that it was free speech or protected speech or some such. When asked about trespassing the cop said something like it wasn't trespassing unless they had specifically told an officer of the law that they didn't want that person there, and didn't pursue the matter further...

Very strange response by the police.

I agree with the person above that a video camera would be very helpful. Perhaps a letter should be sent around the neighborhood asking that ALL victims report these incidents, and keep a record of the police response.

The police don't seem to mind what happened, but with an increased quantity of complaints, they may be forced to handle the situation.

P.S. What about reporting this to a local news channel? Perhaps a television crew would come out to film the evidence, and air the segment. If they were helpful, they could suggest that others in the neighborhood with similar problems should contact the police.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. I've considered all the things you've mentioned. They are all possible

options...

[Bouncy Ball]

7. I like the idea of a letter being sent around the neighborhood

being careful not to name names (is that libel or slander?) but definitely letting everyone know what is going on. Put the letter on EVERYONE'S front door, not just the people you think might be targeted. I'm rather WASP-ey myself but I'd still want to know so I could watch the backs of my African-American and Jewish neighbors, becuase I sure as hell would.

[hickman1937]

14. Libel is written, slander is said.

N/T

[LuCifer]

19. I was just gonna say that...

...and what's with this "well unless you had a police officer tell them before hand to not trespass, they can trespass" excuse? My dad was a cop for 3 decades, and I have NEVER hear THAT one before. Sounds like lazy bacon to me!

Lu Cifer, here's some free speech for you righties: FUCK YOU! And while I'm at it: EAT SHIT AND DIE!

[Bouncy Ball]

6. All the neighbors who are concerned about this

need to meet and talk about it, get on the same page, as it were. This is not something to be blown off.

I like your ideas--approach the parents, even if it is just a CYA kind of thing. Photographic evidence of EVERYTHING and write down any and all encounters with youth/parents/police. The police really should have at the very least filed a report so there is something on record. Then the neighbors would have a police report #, too.

Knowing where you live, sadly, I don't find it surprising that the police didn't take it more seriously.

Everything needs to be documented, this is really important.

Is there anyway the neighbors in question could even possibly set up a small camera outside to catch the little buggers in the act?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

9. Some of this (cameras etc) is being done.

[politicat]

8. Post no trespassing signs.

Then if there are any further... incidents, at least there's a trespassing issue. Also, look up the legal definition of trespassing for your state or municipality. The cops probably have it wrong. That seems a rather facile definition to me.

Get a video camera, especially if you can find one that is motion sensitive, else you're gonna be changing tapes a lot.

Contact the school(s) that the kids are likely to attend and talk to the guidance counselor. Let zim know that the police have not been helpful, but that you think the school should be aware of these budding hate mongers. As much as I hate to suggest this, remind them that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (the Columbine shooters) were racist and anti-semites (rather than goths and punks which they really were not.) Thus, these kids need to be watched. You may be able to do this by sending the school a letter stating the problem. In that letter, don't ask for the school's assistance; merely state that you think they need to be aware of the situation and to do as they see fit.

Get a neighborhood watch together; the local police should have an organizing form or try http://www.usaonwatch.org/. And good luck. Ya'll might also want to try talking to the Alternative papers; this is a story they sometimes like, especially because it makes the cops look like dingbats....

Pcat

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. I'd like to hope it's some lazyass cop not wanting to get bothered on

Christmas but time will tell...

I assume that any call they have to respond to is on the record, don't know if he has to file a report.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

11. le kick

[hickman1937]

12. If you decide to talk to the parents

Don't go alone(on the other hand don't take a gang-two is good) and don't go into the house. Make it brief and non-confrontational. I'm maybe paranoid but you already indicated that your neighbor thought that the parents were a dead end.

[Lost4words]

13. document and or record everything, dates time etc.

get a large vicious dog you dont care about and wait.

[hickman1937]

15. I love your user name

I think 86 started life as a stage managers term for removing props, but I'm wrong a lot.

[hickman1937]

16. One more thing, then I'll shut up

I've found that sometimes the police are a lot more sympathetic than you think. They, after all, have to clean up the mess when it escalates to where it inevitably will. Visit them, ask for advice. Start that link. Don't get discouraged by initial bad attitude.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. Yeah, the police response thing I got third hand from my neighbor

so I can't vouch for the accuracy.

[Lost4words]

18. yours is a good aproch hickman1937!

thanks for the compliment, re: my ID. :hi: