Residents fight to contain brewing youth racial tensions
By Charlene Muhammad
Updated May 27, 2005, 01:06 pm Refer this article
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Residents reach boiling point over racial attacks (FCN, 03-22-2005)
Interview with Nation of Islam Latino Representative: The Basis Of
Black-Latino Unity Is Not Political (BlackElectorate.com, 07-24-2001)
Min. Tony Muhammad and F.O.I. converse with Crenshaw High School police
about latest rash of L.A. County school fights between Blacks and
Latinos.
CORONA, Calif. (FinalCall.com) - The fatal stabbing of a Black teen by
three Latino youth May 11 marks the first reported death in brewing
violence between the groups in Los Angeles and surrounding counties.
Family and classmates say 15-year-old Dominic Redd was comedic and
giving, but the boys who chased him on his way home from school at
around 4:30 p.m., stabbing him nine times, will never come to know
that.
"Right now, we need a lot of emotional support and prayers, and we
need to find justice for our son. I just want closure," said his
mother, Lisa Allen.
Jerome Redd, his father, also made a plea to his son's friends and
other Black youth: "Don't retaliate. That's what's expected. We
have to get control of the situation and we can't fall for a simple
ploy such as an email or rumors that keep it going." He was referring
to an email rumor charging Latino violence against Blacks, which has
escalated paranoia, fighting and increased school absences.
"These children need to be respected. They have a lot of power and
can do a lot of things, both negative and positive, but we can't
ignore them. We have to allow them to voice their opinions and
problems, and we have to address them," he said.
Reports say that Dominic ran from his pursuers, and ducked into the
unit where his family lived, but was unable to open a door to escape.
His attackers cornered him just yards from his front door.
"We can't let this incident cause us to go into an all out war with
our Brown Brothers when, historically, they've never been our
enemy," insisted Western Regional Minister Tony Muhammad.
"The question becomes, when did we become enemies one of another; and
if we're not mad with our 400-year-old enemy, how can we be mad with
the Brown man?"
Duane Muhammad observes students filing into Crenshaw High School May
12, as F.O.I. continue to provide security for students fearful of
attacks. Photos: Charlene Muhammad
Dominic's death comes on the heels of a series of campus brawls
between Black and Brown youth at Jefferson, Crenshaw, Locke and Santa
Monica high schools.
On Cinco de Mayo, an annual Mexican holiday, Min. Tony and Halim
Muhammad, Western Region Fruit of Islam Captain, dispatched Brothers to
12 high schools and three junior high schools to protect students
during their travels to and from campus, and to ease their fears about
the email lie that they were targets.
Denver Harris, who lives nearby with his 17-year-old daughter, labeled
Dominic a martyr.
"He died for the kids who are here today, because he was a good kid
and a good student. God always seems to take the good ones because that
makes a difference. Look around. You have the Blacks, Mexicans,
Whites-he brought them all together," he said.
Donning a black t-shirt that read "Redd 4," Dominic's football
jersey number, 14-year-old Shana said that his death brought about a
change.
"A lot more people, different races, are talking at our school now,
and it never used to be like that. I think everybody's realizing that
it needs to stop," she observed.
"It's a terrible tragedy and a lot of us are still in shock,
because this is the first time in Corona that I hear of something like
this happening," said Sam Buenrostro, Centennial's principal.
But Min. Tony said he is saddened, but not surprised over the killing.
"The suburbs are full of people who came out of the inner city who
had already been affected by gang violence," he opined. "You can
take people out of gang-ridden L.A., but you haven't transformed
their minds."
Corona Police have not yet identified any motive for the murder at
Final Call presstime. They are offering a $10,000 reward for
information leading to an arrest and conviction. Their anonymous tip
line is (951) 817-5837.
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