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.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens