REMARKS
Panel members discuss racial disparities and unfair practices in gang database entries
0:53:22
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122 sec
Babe Howell and other panel members respond to Council Member Cabán's example, elaborating on the racial disparities and unfair practices in gang database entries. They highlight how similar behaviors are treated differently based on race and gender.
- The panel confirms that the same social media posts that might land black or Latinx youth in the gang database are often ignored when made by white youth.
- The database is noted to be 97% male, indicating a strong gender bias as well.
- Experts emphasize that all children deserve second chances and the opportunity to experiment with different personalities and styles without being labeled as gang members.
- The discussion touches on how social media interactions among youth can be misinterpreted by law enforcement, when they may actually serve as a non-violent outlet for conflict resolution.
Babe Howell
0:53:22
That's true.
0:53:25
Young people, they I mean, you can think about your child, your niece, your nephew, your cousin, think about the color of their skin and that's going to determine whether for the exact same social media post, my 6 year old nephew, every single time I see a post, he's got his hands up with his 3 fourth, My friends, you know, that same conduct will land, a black or Latinx New Yorker in the gang database.
0:53:51
And I will say it's also 97%, male.
0:53:56
So you might not actually end up.
0:53:58
It's very, you know, just profiles.
0:54:01
But the same conduct that will land, black and brown kids in the gang database will be ignored when white kids engage in it, even when there are more red flags.
0:54:15
I I do wanna say all kids also make mistakes.
0:54:18
You know, all kids dress alike and act silly and even do stupid things.
0:54:24
Your parents cannot control what you do when you're 16, 17.
0:54:27
You certainly can't control what your other friends do.
0:54:30
And finally, a lot of the social media back and forth, according to researchers who follow it like Desmond Patton, Upton and, Lane is his last name, skipping my mind, see that, you know, in the same way that rap battles and dance and and breakdance battles, played out in the past to, like, as a diversion for violence, actually, the social media kind of conflicts and beefing is a way to keep, violence off the street and kind of posture and enact things out online.
0:55:04
So, yeah, my reaction is a 100%.
0:55:08
And it's not fair.
0:55:09
All children deserve to be children, to actually to try on different personalities, to dress like their friends, and to get second chances, and, you know, thrive.
Samah Sisay
0:55:22
Thank you.
0:55:22
They're our future.
Tiffany Cabán
0:55:24
Yeah.
0:55:24
Thank you, chair.
Kezilar Cornish
0:55:25
May I may I
