D.A. David Cooke announced he was dropping the criminal gang charges on at least some of the suspects in a press conference held yesterday. Cooke said there wasn’t enough evidence to support criminal gang activity charges against suspects Lekelvin Lamont Renfroe 20, and Hajj-Malik Markaveli Renfrone, 18.
The level of vitriol on social media and in comments by those in favor of higher sentencing and those in favor of lessening the charges has been extremely heated to say the least. But beyond the inflamed passions and charges of racism which you always find on social media, was a complete misunderstanding and a misrepresentation of the facts. So let me try and at least clear up a few false rumors flying around.
- No customer was beaten or thrown off a motorized scooter. That was one of the 88 participants in this mob scene. If you watch the video you can see him fall off and join the crowd. No handicapped person was assaulted so please stop spreading that false rumor.
- Flashing “gang signs” a big stretch. Go on practically any teenager’s Facebook or Instagram account and I can bet you will find photos of them displaying all sorts of hand gestures. The only thing that means is this is the latest fad. They claim the “W” sign made stood for Westside High School.
- The Charges weren’t dropped they were lessened. That is a big difference.
Not once did I ever advocate that all these young people should get away without punishment. All of the participants in that idiotic decision to mob the Wal-mart need to understand the gravity of the stupidity that night. Someone could have easily been killed had a trigger-happy customer been armed and felt threatened. All of this mob of young people absolutely need to be punished.
The outrage in the community was not about whether they should be punished, but about adding the criminal activity charge which seemed to be overkill.
Why do young people join Gangs?
This is the most important question we all need to be asking and discussing. According to an organization that assists people with leaving gangs called Gangfree.org, they identified six major risk factors.
- Lack of jobs for youth
- Poverty compounded by social isolation
- Domestic violence
- Negative peer networks
- Lack of parental supervision
- Early academic failure and lack of school attachment
They also listed a sense of “family”, need for food or money, desire for protection, peer pressure, family history or tradition, excitement, to appear “Cool” as other contributing factors.
I would also add that many people think a person that is 18 or 20 “ought to know better” which is a phrase that was oft repeated on social media is probably unaware that that the adolescent brain continues to mature well into the 20s. The part of the brain that controls good judgement, risk-aversion, impulse control, and thrill-seeking doesn’t really work all that well until your mid to late 20’s. You can read more about that here: Adolescent Maturity and the Brain
I do not mention that as an excuse for the behavior at Wal-Mart, but it is important to understand that a 20 year old may be technically an adult but their brain isn’t fully developed. I think most of us over 30 can attest to that fact as well without needing to read a scientific study.
Are there double standards based on race?
The reason I’m posting the video below is many in Monroe County, GA where this beating occurred wonder if these were actual “gang” crimes, or simply kids playing gang. According to WGXA, the teen in this video and his parents walked into the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to report the beating and showed investigators this video clip of him being beaten and kicked while he was on the ground trying to protect himself from the blows and kicks. He said he wanted out of the High Society White Boys Gang, and that the beating was the price he paid to get out.
Many comments I read on social media seemed to indicate many didn’t think this was a real gang. There certainly is a new culture or fad where young people record themselves doing stupid, often times violent things, then post it online. But how many of these same people questioning whether this was a gang activity immediately called the incident at Wal-Mart gang related? In fact many of these same people excusing the beating in the video below were the most vocal ones demanding the Wal-Mart group be charged with criminal gang activity.
These six were arrested for the beating in the video as well as a subsequent retaliation fight between a rival gang called Dirty White Boys. In prison they will learn what a real gang entails. pun intended
What programs are in place to help people leave gangs?
This I think is the most essential question we all need to ask ourselves. Regardless of the reason why someone joined a gang, when they want to leave they know there is a steep price to pay. There are also cases where leaving a gang meant harm came to a family member as well. What programs are in place for these young people who feel trapped and want to turn their lives around but simply don’t know how?
I am glad the Macon NAACP finally chose to add their voice in asking the criminal activity charges be reduced, but what practical steps or programs do they have in place to help young black teenage boys and girls leave gangs? There are a few groups and individuals scattered around town doing tremendous work and I certainly praise the hard work they do, but they need help.
Right now the only major program or deterrent we seem to have in place are extremely harsh sentencing guidelines which are supposed to act as a deterrent but also traps these people wanting to leave between a rock and a hard place. If they admit they are in a gang they can be arrested. It they leave they will be beaten and possibly killed. So where is their lifeline to get out?
Since District Attorney David Cooke views gangs as a serious problem in Macon, perhaps some of that $1 million settlement from the gambling machines could go to groups working to help people leave gangs and turn their lives around. I share Mr. Cooke’s concern that we need to address gang activity, but I think we can’t focus solely on sentencing as a deterrent since that isn’t working.
We need to additionally address the primary reasons why young men and women join gangs in the first place. We need to have an organized infrastructure and support system in place to help gang members who wish to leave and turn their lives around without fear of harm to them or their families or arrest. Unless we do those two things, you can expect a lot worse incidents than the one you witnessed at Wal-Mart or the beating in Forsyth.
A very wise man named Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We would be wise to heed those words and take steps to prevent them from ever joining in the first place. For those wishing to leave, we also must lend them a helping hand to make that jump.
There is a double standard in our society when it comes to crime and race. I noticed how Mr. Cooke wanted so desperately to make an “example” of the kids who were involved in the incident at Walmart. He never thought it might have been a good idea to do a bit of research into these kids’ background before he slapped the “gang-banger” label on all of them. Thanks to your reporting, Alan, I can compare what happened in the Grant Hoffman case to this one. Although Hoffman’s actions resulted in the death of a young woman, he still has his driver’s license and his freedom. I think the kids who raged through Walmart should be punished, but I think the punishment should fit the crime. No one was hurt and no one died. I think an appropriate punishment should be six weeks of community service (240 hours,) restitution, and a small fine of, say $1000. Now, if it is discovered that some of those who were involved in this incident are actually gang members, they should be charged with engaging in gang activity and the DA should proceed from that point.
Great suggestion for punishment. As always thanks for your thoughtful comments majiir.
13WMAZ reported that on the store video the Wal-Mart mob ringleader who went back for his cellphone after he had dropped it was the one who was on the store video “flashing gang signs”.
How can you deny that here, when the major news station stated that in their report? Do you have proof of what you are saying or are you just saying what you want the public to believe as your truth. I find your reporting to be extremely one-sided and biased toward the criminal element.
There have been literally BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS OF youth programs and programs for the poor, which have shown absolutely zero result. Yet, you state we aren’t doing enough. The facts are we have poured money into something that has not worked and will never work. There has to be parent participation above anything else. Parents have to CARE about their children enough to discipline them and even provide examples of their own to actually change a mind and a heart.
Then you go on to compare a white person’s lenient crime with this crime. There literally is no comparison.
The placating of criminals in this society has gone on long enough. All should be charged appropriately, including the white person. He should have been charged appropriately. The next time, the comparison will be with something else and then soon the rule of law is inconsequential.
How long will this deliberate attack against our society and the rule of law continue? Until no one believes they have to obey the law because they are either black or white? The whole idea that anyone should be given a break after criminal activity, no matter the color, is OUTRAGEOUS! Quit making any criminal activity by ANY ONE OF ANY COLOR a comparison to be made each and every time the law is broken.
The white boys in the gangs deserve to be punished to the maximum. Criminal activity is criminal activity and thugs are thugs, no matter the color.
I would love to see a link for your “billions upon billions” figure. If you can find the links to groups or any agencies in Bibb county that have access to those billions to help gang members escape that life please share the links because I couldn’t find any.
Your other premise about placating criminals also seems to have been pulled from the air. Sentencing is stricter than it has ever been. Judges hands are often tied by three strikes laws. The prisons are full. 7 million Americans either incarcerated or on probation or parole while the crime rates are lower than past decades. Your hyperbole isn’t supported by facts or statistics.
This article was well written!
Thanks Jalisa
As per usual, Alan, a thoughtfully considered, well written article. Like most in the community, I was enraged by what happened in “my” Walmart, but I was skeptical that this was truly gang related. It was destructive, but not violent. These young people ran right by the couple of customers you could see on the video and never engaged them. Also, while they clearly destroyed merchandise, there’s been no accusation or charge that anyone stole anything. Very uncharacteristic behavior of what we usually hear reported of local gang activity; what would a gang have to gain from a random act of vandalism such as this? My personal conclusion, was that DA Cooke had used the criminal gang charge as a pressure tactic to get the few alleged culprits they had in custody to talk and name others. Now, having said all that, I still condemn what happened as shameful and inexcusible. It was criminal and punishment is certainly warranted. Majiir’s recommendation of fines and community service is an excellent idea. Why not put these kids to work as free labor cleaning up some of the blighted Bibb neighborhoods that some of our commissioners have been complaining about recently. And of course, if our local law enforcement can prove actual gang affiliation, then proceed accordingly.
Thanks Janet. I agree with those recommendations as well. Those blighted neighborhoods would be a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Some hard labor and work will make them think twice about doing something that stupid ever again. Prison will make them worse and destroy andy hope they can get decent jobs in the future.
Well written article. I agree with you (common ground between a liberal and a conservative 🙂 ).
Thank you. I think there are many things liberals and conservatives can agree with. Politicians, pundits, and the media do their best to keep sewing discord because it’s in their best interests to do so. But when people look at policies and problems and not an R or D, I often find common ground.