Stopping trouble from the get-go
Activists gather to defuse rumors, threat of gang war
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Preston Gannaway / The Rocky
Former Crips gang member Gary Armstrong talks with middle school students Tuesday at an Open Door Youth Gang Alternative program at Wyatt-Edison Charter School. Armstrong was a friend of slain Crips co-founder Michael Asberry.
A group of ex-gang members, clergymen and community activists began mobilizing Tuesday to quell rumors that the shooting death of a former gang leader over the weekend was a gang hit.
That will be the first goal for 14 men who stood on the stage of a basketball gym at the New Hope Baptist Church in northeast Denver.
Their second goal will be to look for long-range solutions to help troubled young men and women find constructive alternatives to street gangs.
The group emphasized that they believe the metro area is not headed for a gang war, and that they want to make certain one doesn't happen.
Rumors feed tension
Organizers said rumors tend to escalate gang tensions, so their immediate goal is to spread the word that it does not appear the weekend slaying in Aurora of ex-gang leader Michael Asberry was committed by a rival.
That brought little solace to Frederick Nathaniel Mason III, one of the organizers, who, along with Asberry, was one of the original Crips street gang members.
During a news conference, as Mason called for community groups to work with the city and develop volunteer programs in which youths can participate, he broke down.
"I feel I'm responsible for killing my friend, and I feel a heavy heart for it," said Mason, adding that the gang life he and Asberry were involved in during their younger years had finally caught up to them.
A need to do more
The Rev. Jerry Demmer of the Absolute Word Church also challenged other ministers to do more and address their congregations about the pitfalls of joining street gangs. "We're talking about you who are part of the clergy to step up to the forefront - and let's be proactive in the community," Demmer said.
The Absolute Word Church, the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver and the Prodigal Son Initiative Inc., are holding an All Youth March on Friday evening beginning at the Urban League's offices, 5900 E. 39th Ave., and proceeding to the Holly Square shopping center, where a fire destroyed most of the North Park Hill landmark over the weekend. Officials said they believe the fire was the result of arson.
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May 21, 2008
2:49 a.m.
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happymike44 writes:
What else could it have been.This guy was no saint wish they would stop painting him as such.He brought agony and misery into thousands of people's lives everyday.So why keep bringing up what he did.Then we have these boys who suddenly have gotten their acts together.These people will never change and how about writing about the people of color.Who have obeyed the laws all their lives and go to church and have always been a good role model to their community.Not these idiots who have brought the gang bangers to Denver.Do you really think they have improved the quality of life in colorado.I am sure many people do not look up to them for this behavior.
May 21, 2008
5:29 a.m.
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plotz writes:
Walks like a gang hit, looks like a gang hit, sounds like a gang hit...it is a gang hit. What nonsense are these clergy and other getting into. What is needed is for the local police and the feds is to have another Elliot Ness and his group to come on these gangs like a hammer and never let up. Instead of coddling black communities fearful of their response against their own kind. Of course, by protecting the gangs they are complicent in their crimes as well.
May 21, 2008
9:15 a.m.
dcolon47 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 21, 2008
9:36 a.m.
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rurude writes:
It's too bad that you feel that way about a fellow human being. I am glad my heart doesn't feel the same. I know these people personally and never really had a good opinion about them.
If they don't participate in helping children (those with first hand knowledge) then who can give real information to the upcoming children?
Thanks for finally stepping-up. I am very proud of the changes you've made black man!
May 21, 2008
9:38 a.m.
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prayerfulone writes:
Best of luck to those whom will give it a try! Been there done that. Be prepared for all the challenges ahead and keep in mind there will be forces working against you constantly. As much as people say they want it to end truth known is that there is profit in it for some to not let that happen.
May 21, 2008
10:28 a.m.
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becket writes:
Joon us in declaring May, Michael Asberry month. We need to make his birthday a holiday.
May 21, 2008
11:52 a.m.
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theairdog writes:
Making sure all my spare mags for the AR are loaded up.
May 23, 2008
9:02 p.m.
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BREAL writes:
Let’s look at all of this for what it really is. A life was taken by the hads of most likely someone who looked and dressed just like the victim. The victim’s hands are filthy from the lives he has destroyed and taken and made through media coverage a HERO?
No matter how you look at it this man’s “legacy” is covered through mainstream media outlets as the “FOUNDER of Denver’s Rollin 30 Crips.” This is sick and twisted. A student maintains a 4.0 GPA, stays active in athletics, involved in church and manages to stay away from the lifestyle promoted through every single means of entertainment our society gives is ignored. So what he or she earns a full ride scholarship to a Division 1 college, who cares?
Where is media coverage for the young women who choose not to have multiple babies by multiple preditors of the hood and choose to go to college to improve the chances of a future?
“THUG LIFE,” our society is so fasinated with advertising and media coverage over someone who is partially responsible for the start of the Crips in Denver. Businesses continue to seek profits and not invest in youth programs that are pro active in keeping kids active and away from this mess. So called leaders who “work with gang members” make money of the growth of this type of devient behavior.
We are such a reactive society and wait till a celebrity athlete is killed then businesses decide to donate thousands of dollors to organizations that benefit from saying they are here to reform thugs. In all reality this publicity becomes more a return on investment. It is very profitable to allow this cycle of violence to continue in at risk neighborhoods, it is a loss of revenue to donate to groups and organizations that reach out to kids preventing them from joining negative groups.
Lets just B-REAL….no one cares about stopping the violence, illiteracy rate, illigetimate child birth rate and yes, I will say it BLACK ON BLACK crime. For those young men and women who are not entertained with who the “founder of the crips” is and find your entertainment in school and positive people like Obama or Oprah keep on marching on!!
May 24, 2008
8:41 a.m.
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TheReal writes:
You people have no clue if you wanna know what the real is get out in the streets for a couple of days in the five points on bruce randolph east colfax 13th and chambers were Big Cyc got smoked at then try commenting on someones lifestyle