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Community group announces call to action to end local violence

by Jim E. Winburn • January 30, 2015

TCAL co-founder Pharaoh Mitchell speaks at a press conference Jan. 29 outside the Antelope Valley Courthouse to address violence in the community. (Photo by Jim E. Winburn)
TCAL co-founder Pharaoh Mitchell speaks at a press conference Jan. 29 outside the Antelope Valley Courthouse to address violence in the community. (Photo by Jim E. Winburn)

LANCASTER – The Community Action League held a press conference at the Antelope Valley Courthouse Thursday to recruit local participation in the fight against violence.

TCAL co-founder V. Jesse Smith told the handful of people gathered outside the courthouse that members of the community must add to the solutions to stop senseless acts of violence in the Antelope Valley.

“A young man, striving to become a musician, was killed in his garage because of reckless shooting – unnecessarily. Palmdale High School vandalized – unnecessarily,” Smith said. “We got to decide at this point to take a stand. We rise up when racism is strong in this community, so we must also rise up when violence rears its ugly head in this community.”

Though recently published crime statistics for the city of Palmdale show the crime rate to be at its lowest in the past 20 years, some in the community remain vocal regarding the visibility of violence throughout neighborhoods.

The latest murder took place in Lancaster last week, when 30-year-old Johnnie “June” Jones III was shot and killed after an argument in the 45400 block of Corkwood Avenue.
The latest murder took place in Lancaster Jan. 17, when 30-year-old Johnnie “June” Jones III was shot to death after an argument in the 45400 block of Corkwood Avenue.

“This right here is a travesty,” league co-founder Pharaoh Mitchell said at the press conference. “This senseless violence that is going on in our community should not be going on. We have to be here to protect our community, and unnecessary crimes like this should not be going on.”

Although Lancaster officials introduced an Administration Citation Program on Tuesday to counter what is seen as an increasing criminal impact on local businesses and residents, The Community Action League proposed a different approach to take their community back from violent offenders.

TCAL members outlined a few strategies and programs that would require participation from residents and stakeholders to combat local violence, such as forming a Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Committee to address the needs of families impacted by violence.

“Another one would be to call upon the municipalities, both Lancaster as well as Palmdale, and most importantly our county officials, to begin to identify possible resources to create a Violence Reduction Department in both municipalities that will partner with local CBOs (community based organizations) so we can begin to strategize to reduce violence in our communities,” Ansar “Stan” Muhammad announced.

The league stated in their press release that the proposed Violence Reduction Department would be similar to the Los Angeles-based model of the Gang Reduction Youth Development Department, while suggesting the organization would be funded by Palmdale and Lancaster.

Members of the league also recognized the importance of working with law enforcement in the ongoing effort to make neighborhoods safer.

“We can’t just hope that law enforcement will take care of this problem. This is not just a law enforcement problem – this is a community problem,” Mitchell said. “If you’re not reporting these crimes, you’re just as guilty as the person committing these crimes. Do not condone any violence in any form in our community.”

Emmett Murrell, executive director of Murrell’s Farm and Boys Home, said the greatest strategy for reducing violence is to embrace the community’s future through its next generation of leaders.

“I think it’s paramount that we pull together the young men who can have a positive impact on the maturation of the youngsters as they begin to develop and become stakeholders of the community where they have been too long without,” said Murrell. “We’re hoping as a result of this, we’re setting up opportunities for them not only to further their education but to get the kind of skills that are going to be needed.”

TCAL is hosting an upcoming town hall meeting in Palmdale to provide more details about their goals and programs, while seeking input from the public on how to prevent crime in the community.

The town hall will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, 38350 Sierra Highway in Palmdale.

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About the author

Jim E. Winburn is freelance reporter covering news of public interest.
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Filed Under: Lancaster, Palmdale

14 comments for "Community group announces call to action to end local violence"

  1. Son of the Anti Rex says

    February 2, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    This organisation loses credibility with a homophone and anti Semite like Stan Muhammad at the helm. How can they be taken seriously with that type of person in leadership?

  2. War Monger says

    February 2, 2015 at 8:46 am

    How about attacking:
    Welfare Fraud
    Disability Fraud
    Food stamp Fraud
    Fatherless families
    Deadbeat Dads
    Junior High Gangsters
    Mothers without a Wedding Ring
    Black “Leaders” getting in the Game for the Money
    Our Ghettos
    Drug Dealers
    Pimps
    Bad Teachers
    Bully Cops

    • TERRY JONES says

      February 3, 2015 at 8:17 am

      YOU SOUND LIKE A RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN RACIST

      • Shadow says

        February 8, 2015 at 7:47 pm

        Terry Jones:
        Not a racist. I think black leaders need to look within the black community and reform the culture rather than trying to say that blacks are victims of outside forces that need to be reformed. Black culture is a mess and just trying to turn the blind eye to that is disingenuous.

  3. 351 says

    January 31, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Is that the chump from J & Challenger with the news papers? Sucka… He will never give me a paper or a bean pie! Not sure why though. It can’t be because I happen to be Caucasian because racism is wrong. Right? Or is it only wrong when white people practice it? Brown Pride… Not racist. Black Power… Not racist. Black college… Not racist. Black History Month… Not racist. Miss Black America. .. Not racist. . I stand by the truth that the WHITE, CHRISTIAN, HETEROSEXUAL, AMERICAN MALE is the most discriminated upon person on the modern day Earth-

  4. done says

    January 31, 2015 at 10:20 am

    How can this TCAL group expect anyone to take them seriously when they associate with nation of islam goons?

  5. Michelle says

    January 30, 2015 at 5:17 pm

    I WENT SCHOOL WITH JUNE… HE WOULD BE MISSED
    I FEEL SORRY FOR HIS FAMILY….

  6. John says

    January 30, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    Wasn’t there an article here in the AV Times stating that the crime rate in Palmdale has gone down? Yup that’s right,,,, and elephants can fly!

  7. Doc Rivers says

    January 30, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    I love it, bring South Central LA solutions while spending other peoples money. This group is in search of a cause besides being part of a Justice Dept. lawsuit against both cities costing taxpayers millions of dollars. Lets see who runs for political office out of this group.

    • Marquez says

      January 31, 2015 at 5:37 pm

      Open your eyes people, look who’s comitting the crimes here in the AV. I love living here in North Central LA. Keep brining in the scum.

    • eris says

      January 31, 2015 at 7:29 pm

      The black ppl just no one wants to say it

      • Marq says

        January 31, 2015 at 10:15 pm

        Thank you very much, it’s about time someone said the truth!!!!

        • TiredOfIdiots says

          February 3, 2015 at 12:50 am

          It’s not just black people idiots! It’s Hispanics, Whites, Blacks etc committing crimes! You sound so stupid and rascist!

          • Truth says

            February 9, 2015 at 6:56 pm

            “Even allowing for the existence of discrimination in the criminal justice system, the higher rates of crime among black Americans cannot be denied,” wrote James Q. Wilson and Richard Herrnstein in their classic 1985 study, “Crime and Human Nature.” “Every study of crime using official data shows blacks to be overrepresented among persons arrested, convicted, and imprisoned for street crimes.”

            Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/21/family-secret-what-the-left-wont-tell-you-about-bl/#ixzz3RJ6ITGMN
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