I recently had lunch with a fellow media colleague who shared with me that a number of the local Democrats are mad at me because of my recent statements regarding crime in general, and young Black men who engage in criminal behavior in particular. Apparently they weren’t too thrilled that I have added the term “homeycide” into my regular lexicon.
“Homeycide” is a word first used by an urban writer who would be my counterpart in Philadelphia. It’s used to describe what happens when one Black person with a criminal record kills another Black person with a criminal record.
I can see why some Democrats would be mad at me. The truth really does hurt. Too bad! As I look at the recent murders in Indianapolis it’s time to start telling the truth about who is popping a cap in whom. And if Democrats want to get mad at someone, allow me to give them some advice on where they should point their anger.
How about we start with 16-year-old Simeon Adams who has been charged with the April 1 murder of Nathan Trapuzzano. I attended his arraignment last week to see his demeanor and if he showed any kind of remorse. I didn’t see any.
Although I was not there for the infamous “perp walk” smile he gave while being brought to the courtroom, I was there to see his behavior as he sat in the defendant’s chair. The look I saw made me want to kick his rear end.
Not only was he smug and dismissive. But his attitude came across as the teenager who took your car without permission, let his friends ride with him, they drink and smoke pot, get into an accident and wreck the car, then blame you for leaving the keys out.
To make matters worse, three of his other “smug thug” friends were there to “show support.” Note this was 9 a.m., so you would have thought these guys would have been in school. And the arraignment ended, when asked for a comment by the media the replies were “free Lil’ Red” (that was his street name) and “he didn’t do nothing.”
So if Democrats want to get mad about anything, that’s what you should be mad about!
If you want to get mad, get mad at the leadership you have been electing for God knows how many years. When was the last time you heard Vernon Brown, Joe Simpson, Duke Oliver or Monroe Gray speak out on this issue? I’ve heard Vernon make excuses for bad behavior. I’ve seen Simpson sue the city and ask for $150,000 because the cops told him to stop interfering with a potential crime scene in his neighborhood and he thought his civil rights were being violated. Heck, I’d even be happy to hear from Center Township Constable Tony Duncan. At least he would finally be useful for something.
Your local Democrats are good at blocking proposals that would put more police and better roads in your neighborhoods, but when it comes to dealing with the urban terrorists who are running the streets and forcing good, hard-working law abiding citizens to live in fear, they are nowhere to be found.
I guess if I had that kind of record I would get mad at the person who pointed that out too. Maybe I need to go out and shoot another Black person and get charged with murder. That would probably make them happy.
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz is an attorney, political commentator and publisher of IndyPolitics.org. Email comments to him at abdul@indypolitics.org.
