Pubdate: Thu, 07 Aug 2003 Source: Battle Creek Enquirer (MI) Copyright: 2003 Battle Creek Enquirer Contact: http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/customerservice/contactus.html Website: http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1359 NEIGHBORS' PROTEST CAN HAVE IMPACT Enquirer's View Several dozen residents of the Battle Creek Avenue neighborhood and their supporters turned out in force Tuesday for the 20th annual National Night Out. Their message was clear: No more drugs. No more prostitutes. Neighbors of all ages and races joined together to march through their community and put lawbreakers on notice that they are tired of illicit activities in their neighborhood and they won't tolerate it anymore. Such outspoken unity can go a long way toward driving the undesirable elements out of a community and making it a safe, peaceful place for families to live. It can't happen overnight, but with continued efforts residents can prevail over those people who have no consideration for others and simply want to deal drugs or promote prostitution. Battle Creek was one of nearly 10,000 U.S. communities that participated Tuesday in the National Night Out program, an anti-crime campaign designed to encourage community involvement. Residents were urged to hang blue ribbons to show their support for the national effort to battle crime. While residents in a number of local neighborhoods participated in the event , the Battle Creek Avenue protest was the largest and most prominent. It needed to be. The neighborhood off of Capital Avenue Southwest has seen its share of trouble with drugs and prostitutes in recent years. Some residents have been intimidated, fearful to walk down the street or allow their children to play outside. But such intimidation only allows criminal elements to flourish. That's why National Night Out encourages residents to band together and make their voices heard. By taking to the streets, as the people on Battle Creek Avenue did, they make it clear that they will not be intimidated and that they will stand up for their neighborhood. Such an attitude has an impact. People involved in criminal activities usually don't want to draw a lot of unwanted attention. That's why they often prey on quiet neighborhoods where they can intimidate residents into staying in their homes so that drug sellers and prostitutes can operate unhindered. When people make it known that they won't put up with such activities, the criminals will usually move on to a place where they don't face outright opposition. The residents of Battle Creek Avenue took a major step toward cleaning up their neighborhood on Tuesday, and we hope they continue their efforts to make their area a place where families not only live but thrive. THE ISSUE: Tuesday's 20th annual observance of National Night Out, an anti-crime program that encourages community involvement. WE THINK: Through their protest against drugs and prostitution, residents of Battle Creek Avenue and their supporters showed how people can make a different in ridding their neighborhood of criminal activities. WHAT ABOUT YOU? Tell us what you think. Information on how to publish your ideas appears with 'Readers' Views' at right. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens