Rogers Park Aldermanic candidate Don Gordon needs to drop the creation of a felon registry as a campaign issue. Using language like, Tell us where they live! perpetuates a dangerous mob mentality, rather than drawing attention to the issues that actually cause crime. People are panicked about crime in Chicago, and I am greatly concerned about an idea like this one catching on, regardless of how Gordons campaign turns out. There are enough stumbling blocks for former prisoners returning to society. A public registry would result in even greater difficulty, which only makes recidivism more likely. When I asked one of the supporters of Gordons plan what she would do if she knew where convicted felons lived, she said she would investigate their steps to ascertain if they are involved in gang activity, of course. #GeorgeZimmerman Given that the criminal justice system disproportionately targets black and brown communities, this policy would only serve to further criminalize those communities and slap targets on black and brown bodies. Gordon believes that the racism inherent in the system can somehow by differentiated from an attempt to extend the grip of that system. One cannot dismantle oppression while simultaneously reinforcing it. This is an alarmist proposal and its the kind of thing thats going to get someone killed by some neighbor who wrongly fancies themselves a private investigator / enforcer of the law. Given the stats on cross racial identification, Gordons supporters would probably wind up stalking random black and brown folks who are just trying to get to work, or to the corner store. And God help those black and brown folks if they should turn around to confront the person stalking them, as Illinois is now a conceal and carry state. If necessary, I plan to organize against this despicable proposal. I am willing to canvass my neighborhood, and talk to other POC about what Gordons proposed policy would mean for an already criminalized community. I take no pleasure in going after Moores opponent, but this idea is one that needs to fall out of the discourse, regardless of the outcome of the 49th Ward election. If we want to discourage governments from enacting these kinds of oppressive policies, no individual seeking election or approval can be allowed to benefit from promoting them. In any case, as much as I hate Moore, I do not trust that we would be in better hands with someone who is promoting the creation of a whole new mechanism of oppression. For the record, there is ZERO evidence that criminal registries reduce crime: jstor.org/stable/10.1086/658483
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 17:19:54 +0000
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