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GROUPS HOPE TO KEEP PEACE AFTER POLICE ABUSE VERDICT Community Leaders Trying to Avoid Violence The Associated Press, Reported in Las Vegas Review Journal, 10-15-02, P. 7B LOS ANGELES - Two police officers accused of beating an Inglewood teenager won't go on trial for several weeks, but community leaders already have begun preparing for the day the verdict is read. Worried that an unpopular outcome could spark violence similar to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, a coalition of businesses, elected officials, law enforcement, youths, churches and others was formed to ensure a peaceful resolution. "We have an opportunity to be a role model for other communities if we can take this tragedy and show how a city can come together... without violence," said Khalid Shah of Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation. At a meeting in August, organizers asked residents to fill out volunteer sheets pledging our help with peacekeeping efforts. The coalition has collected nearly 1,500. The peace coalition was formed days after the arrest of Donovan Jackson, 16, was captured on videotape by an amateur videographer. The tape shows Officer Jeremy Morse slamming Jackson, who is black, onto the trunk of a police cruiser and hitting him. Morse's attorney described it as self-defense. A grand jury has indicated Morse, who is white, for assault by a peace officer under the color of authority. His partner, Officer Bigan Darvish, was charged with filing a false police report. Both have pleaded innocent and are scheduled to return to court Oct. 31. Rioting following the Rodney King verdict is never far from the minds of Inglewood's community leaders, who said they are aware the national spotlight has turned to their city of 115,000. "I think they are on the right track with all this preparation," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, who attended the coalition's initial meeting. "They are right to bring in not only the business and political leaders and homeowners, but also others who are going to have a response to what happens and who... might get all riled up." Teacher Talibah Shakir, a cousin of Jackson, said she supports the efforts. "Rioting doesn't solve anything. It's always the poorest communities that get hurt." WORKING TOGETHER TO ATTAIN FAIRNESS | |
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