Although several officials were visible and the police directed traffic, this vigil belonged to us. No dividing racial or social walls would tear us down in the face of this tragedy, which could have been any one of our children or loved ones. The unity was powerful as people lingered at the memorial, exchanged embraces, or made the “sign of the cross,” sending a blessing skyward.
That moment was beautiful. But there has been little unity from city-officials. Council President Larry Reid and Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente responded to this tragedy with proposed restrictive measures such as implementing a youth curfew, adaptation of the proposed Fruitvale gang injunction, and expansion of the already-controversial gang injunctions to a city-wide level. Members of the Nava family quickly came out in opposition to these drastic measures, which they believe would only further perpetuate the problems the community faces and not create tangible solutions to reduce violence.
When do we begin to criminalize a young person? At age three, Carlitos Nava was a vulnerable, innocent, and curious child- full of life and possibilities. Yet by fifth grade, a youth can be labeled as a gang member, at age twelve they can be put on a gang injunction list, and by age sixteen they can be sentenced to life without parole. How do we decide at what age a vibrant, innocent child transforms into a gang-banging criminal?
Unfortunately, too many children become victims of the systemic violence which blights our communities, especially in neighborhoods plagued by soaring, and disproportionately higher, rates of homicide and violence. And those same neighborhoods see disproportionately higher educational underachievement, unemployment, entry into the criminal system, child abuse, and pregnancy.
Surrounded by a lack of opportunity and a surplus of violence, youth’s lives are lost to the streets, the prison system, or the failing educational and social systems that devalue and dehumanize us. And when our children reach the magic age of eighteen, they age out of any youth services. The State now looks at them as capable adults despite the too frequent lack thereof available resources or transitional programs.
We all need to take a deeper look at the tragedy of Carlos and not rush to ineffective, but politically-friendly solutions. We should look at curfews and injunctions and expose these measures for what they are: the authorization of racial profiling and increased permission to criminalize our community. This is not the necessary response needed to build community and reduce violence.
Let’s instead celebrate the unity our community had at the recent vigil. Let’s rally for our children and youth to be cared for, supported and sustained until they reach independence. Let’s prioritize funding for childcare, healthcare, housing, nutrition, recreation and open space, education, violence prevention, restorative justice, diversion programs, employment training and business development in our community. Let’s embrace all of our community members- regardless of age, religion, immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, social or criminal status. Only then will every member of our community have viable and tangible options towards self-sufficiency, safety, and an ever-improving quality of life.
CARLOS FERNANDO NAVA, PRESENTE