Nika Lorino
Alderman inspired by death to seek death
penalty
An eye for an eyeÖ
In the wake of Milwaukeeís recent drive-by shooting
August 29th, on the cityísí north side that claimed the life of an
infant, 2nd District Alderman Terrance Herron appealed to state
legislators to invoke the death penalty in Wisconsin. On the heels of this
appeal was also a message to African-Americans to take ìgreater responsibility
for their neighborhoods. This is not an easy problemÖî he said in reference to
the violent, black on black crimes that continually plague the inner-city. ì
Itís like a disease on our entire culture and weíve got to figure out a way to
turn some of this stuff around. I mean weæmyself
and all other African Americans.î
However laudable his appeal for the death penalty may
initially seem, one must remain ever cognizant of its timing; in the midst of a
senseless tragedy, Herronís ëBand-Aidí solution surreptitiously tugs at the
heartstrings of a grieving community.
Although I donít believe that Herronís proclamation
is ill-intended, it is misguided, for if his aim as an African-American voice
and vessel of the community, with an obligation to act as benefactor to them,
he, in an effort to offer a remedy for the problems that pervade their community
is leading with his left foot and has more than missed the mark. In light of his
comments, one is left to wonder whose agenda heís furthering.
He stated in the interview that not only is the
problem not an easy one, but that from his ìperspective, as a black man, itís
even worse. Weíve got to take this as our personal fight, and stop pointing the
finger externallyÖ not that external factors donít have an impact, but I think
the internal factors are things we have control over.
During the interview Herron admitted that he had not yet talked to
anyone else about his position on the death penalty and wasnít sure who might
support it. But shortly after the article was printed, many citizens spoke out
and the general consensus was one of shock and outrage.
For the issue here
clearly is not whether the death penalty is a moral or viable one, but rather
the seemingly discriminatory and disproportionate fashion in which itís
administeredæ
often against minorities and those with lower incomes.
Leonard Wells, a former police lieutenant who opposed Herron in last
yearís aldermanic race, said Herron is ìout of stepî with popular opinion on the
issue.
Chris Ahmuty, executive director of the American
Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin said although he could empathize with
Herronís frustration over the increasing number of violent crimes in Milwaukee,
he doesnít think the death penalty will resolve it.
Herron obviously believes that his blackness gives
him a heads up on the problems that plague the African-American, for he says
that the crux of the problem rests largely within the community itself, and not
from any extenuating circumstances, and thus, believes it is one that blacks
should be able to themselves alleviate.
The implications that can be extracted from his
statements are many. Even if his misaligned assertions were valid,
they only
demonstrate that as a member of that particular community, he has a vague
understanding of the underlying problems plaguing it. For if he, being black,
really understood their plight, which has always been one of constant struggle
(however misguided) in an attempt to shore up their sagging side of the economic
playing field, he would know that capital punishment would not help them but,
may in fact exacerbate their problems. For the issue here clearly is not whether
the death penalty is a moral or viable one, but rather the seemingly
discriminatory and disproportionate fashion in which itís administeredæ
often against minorities and those with lower incomes.
A prominent and public figure that is acquainted with
Alderman Herron and, who wishes to remain anonymous, said to me upon hearing
that I was going to write this article, ìItís no surprise to me that he (Herron)
would first, offer himself up as a credible source for what ails the black
community, then heedlessly waylay them in such brutish manner, when he, for the
benefit of his aldermanic requirement, simply maintains a Milwaukee address, but
actually resides some 30 miles outside of his district. This only reinforces the
saying that; ë home is where the heart is.í ì