By Larry Gore Jr.
Guest Opinion
There is an unwritten law in urban communities across the nation concerning the act of snitching: if it doesn’t concern you, mind your business and look the other way. But is that the right attitude one should have especially when it comes down to salvaging the fear-ridden, downtrodden community you are in?
Today, the term “snitch” is often misconstrued and is used out of context with the term “informant” when it is one’s civil duty to inform law enforcement of illegal activities surrounding one’s community. Both words are synonymous to a degree but vary in definition.
One striking example and definition of a snitch would be former drug kingpin, ex-convicted felon, and documented snitch is Detroit’s own Richard “White Boy Rick” Wershe. White Boy Rick was 17 when he was arrested for selling eight kilos of cocaine back in the late 80s on the streets of Detroit. Since his time in prison and perhaps before his bid, he became a classified informant for the police department by helping take down other drug lords and their operations; according to the street code, that constitutes snitching.
Another illustration is if one of your partners in crime gets caught and they rat you out to the authorities for immunity from possible imprisonment, that also constitutes snitching — however when elderly citizens are held hostage in their own homes and inform law enforcement of who is selling illegal weapons and drugs, they are just giving vital information in hopes of saving what’s left in their community.
With the crime level escalating consistently across the nation, many offenders try to operate under the radar without ever being reprimanded and it has made residents in their neighborhoods petrified to ever say anything, but those days are coming to an end.
There are many groups and block clubs in the Metro Detroit area that are taking a firm stand in combating criminal activity by reporting these “urban terrorists” that have beleaguered our neighborhoods and communities for decades. There are many situations where the criminals that were apprehended ended up being acquitted or convicted with a lesser charge all because the eyewitness would not come forward to either partake in pointing them out in a police lineup or testifying against them in court because they were intimidated.
You also have those individuals who have witnessed crimes and have turned a blind eye simply because they don’t want to have anything to do with the situation until they, too, become prey. Again, various block clubs and neighborhood watch groups are constantly being formed to keep a sentry eye on suspicious activities and discourage any would-be thug from entering their once superior community.
Sadly, after prior events regarding this issue, the police, unfortunately, cannot be trusted, and many people are reluctant and skeptical about working with them because of the ongoing controversy regarding many branches of law enforcement across America and that their anonymity may be revealed. No one likes a tattle tale, even back in school days, but when your life and community become at risk for potential danger, then there is no such thing as snitching and it is solely about protection, even survival.
You have convicted pedophiles, murderers, rapists, and larcenists, as well as many foreign business owners who sell citizens outdated food products as well as cigarettes and unlicensed marijuana to adolescents. These are the individuals who don’t know anything else but destroy the moral fiber and cause havoc in the working-class community. The “no snitching” decree only shows the negligent, apathetic mentality many residents bear, and it is growing rampant in the urban community and is branching out to suburban areas.
The vandals, thugs, and miscreants are given the green light from everyone who turned a blind eye to their deeds; from those who bears witness and have information that could very well stop the chain reaction to the irrational acts of violence that has cast a dark shadow over many cities for quite some time. One of the cold facts is that there are people of other races putting their hands in the effort to help save neighborhoods and communities more than the citizens who live in them. The offenders will continue to operate with impunity and contribute their share of deterioration and dismay until someone dares to help abate the nuisance.
Larry Gore Jr. is a freelance author and a Macomb County resident.
