A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Threats
By Albert B. Kelly
It seemed innocent enough.
Walking through one of our housing complexes, I was talking with residents and
handing out material. A voice in a group of about 10 or 12 young men shouted a
greeting and I went over to say hello.
One of the young men asked
if I would pose for a picture with them and so I did. After a little banter
back and forth, I went on my way.
I didn’t give it much
thought; after all meeting residents of all kinds and even an occasional
picture or two is what mayors do- so I didn’t give it much thought until I got
a knock at my door the next day along with a couple of text messages, and a
phone call informing me that my life and safety had been threatened as a result
of the picture.
From what we’ve been able
to piece together, it seems that one or more of the young men I took the
picture with have some type of gang affiliations and with tensions running high
after the April 12th shooting at Las Palmas Restaurant, certain others
felt that I was choosing sides among some mix of rivals.
I don’t claim to be
knowledgeable about gangs or colors or much of anything else associated with that
scene; but even if I were, I wouldn’t accept the idea that there’s a
neighborhood in the city that is off limits to me as the mayor of this
community. That’s an unacceptable tradeoff; threat or no threat.
I don’t think I’m alone
here. Last year Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, in the midst of knocking on
doors, stopped to pose for a photo with a young man; just a little fun mugging
for the camera, a throw-away moment. Afterward, she was accused of “flashing gang
signs” and the whole thing took on a life of its own when it was found that the
young man had a previous felony conviction.
I’m sure Mayor Hodges
meant no disrespect to anyone; I certainly meant no disrespect to any person or
group in this community, but the idea that I was choosing a side or advocating
one side over another is foolishness. If there’s a side here, it’s the people
in this community who want to live in peace and safety.
But more than that, the idea
that a particular group or person; whether through race, ethnicity, religion,
orientation or even “colors” should be off limits is unacceptable to me and it
always will be. I’m responsible to all the people of this community in equal
measure and in that sense; I’m not a respecter of persons.
Maybe such nonsense comes
with the job or maybe it’s the price we pay in the age of Facebook where
everything posts in seconds. I’ll accept that, but I won’t accept the idea that
we have to live in fear so that even the most innocent of gestures carries with
it worry and danger.
But then that’s why good
and decent people have to show up when its time and stand together. That’s why
there has to be a moment when enough is enough. This is our community- the
place where we raise our children, work, play, dream, and hope, bury our loved
ones, mourn and heal. We have to make it what we need it to be.
I’m not unmindful of
danger, but I’m not going to live in fear. I’m not naive; I realize that there
are people out there who value life so little- their own and others- they
wouldn’t think twice before taking one. But that’s why we stand together, pray
for the peace of our community together, look out for each other together; build
things together- that’s what it means to be a community.
There are people in the
world who mistake fear for respect. They can’t get respect because that’s
something that must be earned through character. What they settle for is fear
because with a handgun and some attitude, that’s the best they can hope for.
I’ve spoken with police and
there’s common sense but in the end, for me at least, much is determined by my
faith; it’s where the rubber meets the road, it’s there for times such as this.
In the age of “Snapchat”
and “selfies”, a picture may be worth a hundred “likes” or it may be worth a
thousand threats; either way, it’s an exchange rate I’m not willing to live
with.