by Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick, For New Pittsburgh Courier
Across the nation in cities where there are substantial Black populations there are troubles in the disastrous form of shootings and killings of each other. My primary concern however is not so much about other cities, but about Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, and most recently the Northside.
On a regular basis I am asked the questions what is wrong with us? What happened to us? Have we lost our minds? There are those who would blame it totally on the loss of family control. In my estimation, it is a combination of a number of factors that must be addressed. However, it is my belief that we must start with regaining control of our communities.
How?
Our first line of defense is that the police be afforded the opportunity of doing their jobs and aided by those of us who witness the devastation of our neighborhoods and families. Our communities need police more that any other neighborhoods for a multitude of reasons.
Allow me to provide you with an example: 1. How many times do you witness White persons day and night who do not live in your neighborhood visit next door, across the street, up the street to your house buying drugs and you say absolutely nothing? I have constantly stated that open drug markets only exist in our neighborhoods, Black neighborhoods.
In my lifetime I served in the capacity of a law enforcement officer and was the co-founder of the first Allegheny County-wide narcotics squad. I also have been arrested five times, four times were freedom of expression and the cases were dismissed. The fifth situation I went to trial and was found not guilty, I still believe that we must trust the police with their given responsibility.
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