A Sentinel’s Pledge: Overcoming the “stop snitching” stigma in our Communities

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month or so, you have, no doubtedly, become familiar with the Trayvon Martin case in Florida that has raised tensions in race relations, renewed debate in gun control, and murder: justifiable or not.  What many people have failed to realize is how the community wrapped their heads around this incident in their neighborhood that night beginning with several 911 calls and follow-up by several residents to law enforcement.  In their frustration with the authorities, they were able to bolster this tragedy into the media spotlight and, ultimately, brought national notoriety to it.  In many communities across America, this type of community involvement is frowned upon as a betrayal to a neighborhood code of not snitching.

Snitching, in many neighborhoods, came about from a distrust of law enforcement and authorities who historically may have been either unresponsive to that community’s needs or even an occupying force of harassment and aggression.  Somewhere along the line, criminal activity was allowed to flourish. The “stop snitching” campaign became a source of protection for crime and intimidation to residents in a neighborhood.

The Trayvon Martin case isn’t an isolated incident by any stretch but it brought to light (again) the lack of value of a young Black male life.  The arguments that black on black murder is the bigger story reverberates in social media and water cooler conversation across America.  Oft times, an inner city murder goes unsolved.  A person can be shot dead in the street at high noon  in the heat of the summer with no witnesses, no 911 calls.  No one knows who shot Man Man or Peanut.  Not a soul.  Sometimes out of a code of neighborhood solidarity but many times out of fear.  Meanwhile, the expected lifespan of residents in said neighborhoods are extremely  short compared to other areas. We can debate whether socio-economics or poor education are the things to be addressed.  But no one can argue that the violence and crime are probably the most pressing concerns in many neighborhoods.  So what is the solution?  Do you continue not to snitch and mind your own business?  Is it fear and despair that grips your heart?  Or a sense of hopelessness that no one cares about your plight or your community?  Well… get over it!  You have a right under the First Amendment to air your grievances to the government and peaceably assemble.  Under the Second Amendment, you have a right to bear arms.  While I am not advocating violence, I do advocate the basic human right of self-defense.  The best self-defense, BEFORE the use of firearms, is being proactive in addressing the things in your community that you can control such as the politics and authorities that have either the elected or appointed custodians of your lives.  The real neighborhood watch in the neighborhood Trayvon Martin was killed in was not George Zimmerman.  It is those residents that were vocal about the lack of attention and answers they were entitled to as taxpaying, law-abiding citizens.

And now, the “HOW?”

As proactive residents, we are all sentinels.  Without oversimplifying the task at hand, I am proposing a basic pledge.  This is a pledge that you could consent to privately, in the confines of your own heart or publicly in the feedback of this blog.  This pledge is not calling to stereotype perceived suspicious characters in hoodies or someone that is culturally or religiously different.  This pledge is to ally ourselves with anyone who wants to live with us in safe environments regardless of background.

The Sentinel’s Pledge is as follows:

1. I am a Sentinel in my community.  I am the eyes and ears of safety and accountability for my neighbors and our children.

2.  I pledge to assist any community members who are victims of targeted, criminal activity or unsafe environments inspired by such activity.

3.  I pledge to contact law authorities about activities that could prove to be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of my neighbors and our children.

4.  As we deem safe and non-confrontational, I will address others in my community about potential criminal or safety concerns  with the assistance of respected community institutions i.e. religious centers, community centers, etc.

5.  If eligible, I will always ensure my voter registration is valid and current and participate in the process on all levels of government, local, state and national.

6.  When possible, I will advise and direct eligible voter applicants where and how to register and participate in the voting process.

7.  I will hold publicly appointed and elected officials and public servants accountable to my community through the democratic processes of elections, public assembly participation and citizen mobilization when situations call.

8.  I pledge to connect and network with neighbors and their children through courteous interaction and introduction to gain familiarity and community support.  I will set my prejudices aside and overcome my own ignorance through cultural exchange with those that are of a different background.

9.  I pledge to connect and network with institutions within my community to become familiar with their mission and its’ bonds to the welfare of the neighborhood.

10.  I pledge to engage in the educational, social and/or entrepreneurial development of my community by supporting those institutions that truly demonstrate that they have the best interests of our residents at heart.

We are in the midst of planning a Day of Accountability this year.  To some, it will be known as a “national snitch day,” but we are calling it a Day of Accountability:  A New Atonement.  On this day, we are encouraging Sentinels nationwide to contact law enforcement about potentially dangerous activities in our communities.  We are calling on Sentinels to peaceably assemble in solidarity of the Sentinel’s Pledge.  We will call for a redress of criminal and safety grievances to our public officials.  Date to be announced.

Unfortunately, murder and death will always occur in a community, some a lot more than others.  If the citizens take responsibility and hold the criminal element and authorities accountable, more people will live safely and prosperously.