Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 24, 1990 TAG: 9006240187
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium
The attacks drive a wedge between blacks and whites and threaten racial harmony, E. George Minns, president of the Virginia Beach chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said Friday.
"The growing incidence of youth gang violence involving young African-American males is unacceptable," Minns said in a prepared statement. "Group conduct of this nature [regardless of the color of the perpetrators] is immoral, unlawful, and contrary to the well-being and progress of African-American citizens and society at large."
The statement said the NAACP was calling "for an end to youth gang violence by African-American males and requests the African-American community and the community at large to join efforts to address the immediate as well as the broader issue of youth gang violence in our community."
The group called for face-to-face talks in black neighborhoods to cool racial tensions.
"It's absolutely deplorable when misbehavior has a racial overtone, whether it's white-on-black, or black- on-white," said City Manager Aubrey Watts Jr.
Municipal leaders applauded the NAACP's stand and said they have asked the U.S. attorney to prosecute blacks and whites who are caught provoking racial confrontations at the oceanfront.
NAACP officials from across southeastern Virginia also urged the City Council to form a permanent human relations commission to improve the city's racial climate.
The developments, along with increased police patrols on the resort strip, are an efforts to soothe black-white tensions that have been high since oceanfront riots last Labor Day weekend.
by CNB