Young people have their own views on crime, violence

For a month of Mondays, police, mayors, school officials and other adults have talked about the impact of drugs and gun violence on young people.

On Monday, the young people had their chance. And they see things differently.

A panel of eight teens appeared at the last in a series of town hall meetings put together by Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan. The town halls were at the Patterson Area Civic Center.

“Tonight we’re going to be here for the youth — what they’re thinking, what they’re feeling, their thought processes,” said Holden Murray, Patterson city government’s human resources director.

As police seek help in solving and ending a recent series of violent crimes, many involving teens, the adults had some advice: See something, say something.

The young people aren’t so sure.

“I try not to put myself in situations where I’m in it,” said teen Dillon Gunner.

Even after Uvalde, Sandy Hook and other school shootings, some of the young people aren’t sure active shooter drills are a good idea. They think the drills may be giving away information to shooters waiting to become active.

“I would never trust anyone,” said Patterson Junior High student Trevor Thomas.

“It’s getting closer to home,” said Jamari Francis of Patterson. “You can’t say it won’t happen to you.”

Police violence against minorities, the most notorious example being the death of African American George Floyd in Minnesota, has created rift between young blacks — a category that includes seven of the eight panelists Monday night — and police.

“The police have most black people scared for their safety ...,” Thomas said, directing comments toward police officers in the audience of more than 65 people. “I want to trust you all. But after all that’s happened, I wish I could.”

Interim Morgan City Police Chief Mark E. Griffin’s reply was that the trust has to work both ways.

“To have an officer go out and open himself or herself up,” Griffin said, “we need some respect back.”

Keatyn Harden, a pastor’s daughter, had this solution for making young people avoid trouble: “I’d like to see the kids get more involved in church.”

Some of the young people are doing more than talking about their problems. One of the panelists, 19-year-old LSU student Ajani Connor, has qualified to run for alderman in Baldwin, a town especially hard hit by violent crime.

Three panelists from the July 18 town hall meeting returned and sat in front of the Civic Center stage with pictures of their deceased sons.

The sons of Marcelle Hoskins of Morgan City and Catalene Theriot died as a result of gun violence. The son of Lisa Smith of Patterson died of a fentanyl overdose.