By Dana Williams
"I ripped up the poster to tell people to speak up if they know that a crime is about to happen," Douglas said. "I know many people don't want to be called a 'snitch,' but speaking up is the right thing to do."
Douglas was a part of more than 50 Long Island residents who gathered at a press conference inside of the park to announce the new efforts that community leaders are taking against the "Stop Snitchin'" campaign- a controversial movement that encourages people not to provide information about criminal activities to law enforcement officials.
The campaign stems from the word "snitch," which is an informal term used in many urban neighborhoods to refer to a police informant or someone who tells information about another person.
To combat this campaign, members of the Struggling to Reunite Our New Generation or STRONG organization -a multi-ethnic Long Island organization that addresses youth issues and gang violence- along with members of the Uniondale Violence Intervention Partnership, have recently joined forces with the Long Island Crisis Center to create a new preventive anonymous hotline to encourage people to "speak up before something happens."
The Long Island Crisis Center is a multi-service community-based organization, and its mission is to provide Long Island residents with free confidential services to address a wide-range of issues, according to its Web site. Community members a part of the new collective effort will be encouraging teenagers-and other residents in many of the areas on the South Shore of the Island- to use the hotline to fight against crime in their neighborhoods.
"The reason why we have started this hotline is because we have seen how much this negative 'Stop Snitchin' mentality has really taken over the minds of our youth," explained Sergio Argueta, president of STRONG and a Long Island community activist. "Speaking up is not 'snitchin',' and we want people to know that speaking up is a way to take a stand against the violence, and take our neighborhoods back."
Often promoted in hip-hop music, and known by many law officials as a form of witness intimidation, the "Stop Snitchin'" campaign is one reason why many people believe crimes remain unsolved. Argueta, who is also a former member of a neighborhood gang in Hempstead called Redondel Pride, said community leaders are tired of seeing individuals get away with murders, robberies, and other crimes because people who have information believe it is "uncool" to tell authorities before or even after the crime happens.
"People are afraid to speak up- for safety reasons or because they don't want to hurt their reputation-and we know that," Argueta added. "What we're asking is for people, especially our youth, to call the hotline, and tell us if they think a crime is going to happen. Whether it be they know that someone is bringing a knife or gun to school or anything because we can try to stop the violence before it happens."
The press conference included more than 13 people holding up colorful posters, which had a range of messages on them including "Stop Snitchin'' is giving our community away to the criminals," and "It starts with you." Argueta said the signs are a part of a new poster campaign that the three groups have established to also help in the anti-"Stop Snitchin'" effort.
"We're collaborating to make this effort something powerful because this 'Stop Snitchin'' is hurting our communities," said Erika Anthony, the street outreach coordinator for the Long Island Crisis Center. "Our hotline has no caller-ID, and all we're asking for is for callers to give us a time and a location of a crime they think is going to happen, and we will speak to the proper authorities whether it be the school or police officials."
Callers can leave anonymous tips at (516) 679-1111. The hotline will be open seven days a week for 24 hours.
For more information about the Long Island Crisis Center visit www.licconline.org.
Comments about this story? DWilliams@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
