It hasn’t been a pleasant two weeks for opponents of stop-and-frisk —because it’s been even worse for the victims of gun violence and their families.
Gun-toting thugs seem to have been emboldened by the NYPD’s reduction in gun stops.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and the mothers of slain shooting victims lashed out at critics for their reticence and low-key response to the recent spate of shootings. These mothers believe that tactics such as stop-and-frisk saves the lives.
In the wake of the shooting death of 4-year-old Lloyd Morgan, Assemblyman Eric Stevenson and state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr.,both of The Bronx,endorsed stop-and-frisk as a necessary crime-fighting tool.
While it’s too late for little Lloyd, it’s not too late for Stevenson and Diaz’s colleagues to join them in working with the NYPD to prevent more senseless shooting deaths.
In the wake of this month’s spike in shootings,and Commissioner Kelly’s challenge,the Rev. Al Sharpton is convening a leadership summit on gun violence and stop-and-frisk.
But a summit won’t be productive unless all sides confront the historically toxic relationship between African-Americans and the police. To effectively address policing,crime and gun violence in black and minority communities, community leaders and police officials need to reconcile the past —and lay it to rest.
Read the complete OpEd here –
http://m.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/summit_tips_PTQSQs8DPcS83qbTvNZA1K
Michael Benjamin
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