AlexDooley

SOC460CaseStudyPortfolio
[Link]
11December2014

SubtlyExplainingAwayStreetViolence:MediaFraminginChicagoShootings
OnSeptember23,2014theChicagoTribunereportedontenshootingsoccurringon
thesouthandwestsidesofthecityovertheweekend,[Link]
shootingsinvolveda17yearoldboyfindinghimselfinthecrossfirebetweentwounknown
[Link]:
About6:40p.m.,a17yearoldboywasshotinthejawon
the1500blockofEast62ndStreetintheWoodlawnneighborhoodontheSouthSide,
[Link]
wasstruckinthejaw,[Link],whopolicesayisadocumentedgang
member,wastakentoUniversityofChicagoComerChildren'sHospitalingoodcondition,
policesaid.
ShootingsofthistypearereportedeveryweekendintheTribunenotmanypeople
[Link]
shootingorrandomactofviolenceinawhitesuburbhasagoodchanceofmakingthelocal
eveningnews,sometimesevennationalheadlines,shootingsindisadvantagedcommunities
[Link]
bythenewsmediaservestoinformthepublicofwhattheyshouldbethinkingabout,thus
[Link]
aboutthewaytheTribunechosetohandlethisstoryistheirnoteoftheboysstatusasa
[Link]
potentialtoaffectthesituationandcircumstancesurroundingtheshootinginwhichhewas
involved,[Link]

activitywithoutclarifyingwhetherornottheshootingwasactuallygangrelatedorgoinginto
furtherdetailaboutthecaseitselfcreatesanavenueforreaderstoengageinvictimblaming,
whichalsocontributestotheongoingseeminglackofconcernforyoungmeninthesituation
oftheonecoveredinthisarticle.

[Link]:TheLinkBetweenTraumaandSerialMurderers
Oneofthemoredisturbingnewsstoriesoftheyearinvolvestheapprehendingof
suspectedserialkillerDarrenDeonVannofGary,Indiana,amanthoughttohavekilledas
[Link]
publishedbynewsoutletCNN,Vannhadseenplentyoftimebehindbarsinthetimeleading
uptohispresumedkillingspree.Hewasconvictedofandserved90daysforaclassDfelony
in2004shortlyafterbeingfiredfromatempagencyforwhomheworkedforthreateningto
burndownorblowupthehouseofthemanwhohebelievedwasshelteringhisgirlfriend
(Vannwasalsomarriedatthetime).In2007,Vannpleadedguiltytochargesofaggravated
sexualassaultafterattackinga25yearoldwomanrespondingtoaservicecallfromher
employerinahotelroom,[Link]
agrandjuryandconvicted,sentencedto5yearsimprisonment,anditwasinthefifteen
monthsimmediatelyfollowinghisreleaseinJuly2013thatVannisthoughttohavecommitted
allsevenmurdersofwhichheissuspected.
EdwardMatlock,thesonofVannsformerwife,claimsthatthemomenteverything
wentdownhill,oratleaststartedgoingdownhill,forVannwashisfiringfromthetemp
[Link],whodidnot
[Link]
childhood,norseveralyearsofhislifeintheintermediarybetweenhisbirthinIndianaandhis

eventualmovingbacktoGary,whereheisbelievedtohavecommittedthesesevenmurders.
Losingajobisadifficultthingtodealwithemotionally,butthefactthatVanntooksuchan
apparentlydrasticturnafterbeingfiredspeakstothelikelihoodofmoreunderlyingtraumain
[Link]
whichonemustbegoinginordertosystematicallymurdersevenwomenfornoseemingly
logicalreasonmayverywellstemfromserious,undealtwithmentalillnessand/ortraumatic
circumstancesthesecircumstancesarenotlikelytohavebeenhelpedthroughVannspast
experiencesinprisonforhispastcrimesgiventhepenitentialsystemspropensitytodealwith
thesymptomofaproblemcrimeanddevianceratherthanaddressingtheproblemitself.

DoubleStandards,ImplicitBias,andNeedlessDeath:TheWorstWalMartTripofAll
Time
JohnCrawfordIIIwasbrowsingthesportinggoodssectionofaWalMartstorein
Beavercreek,OhioandpickedupanunpackagedairriflecapableofshootingBBsorpellets.
Concerned(white)citizenRonaldRitchieplacedacallto911,informingthedispatcherthat
therewasagentlemanwalkingaroundwithaguninthestoreandthathewaspointingitat
peoplewavingitbackandforth(amonthaftertheevent,RitchietoldTheGuardianinan
interviewthatCrawfordneveractuallypointedthegunatanybody).Asthepolicewereon
theirway,Crawfordcontinuedbrowsingthestorewhileonthephonewiththemotherofhis
[Link]
CrawfordstoodalonewiththegunpointingtowardthegroundandshootCrawfordwithin
[Link]
officersinvolvedintheshooting,whowereallwhite,wereindictedbyagrandjury.

Whilepartofthejobofapoliceofficeristomakedecisionsbasedonwhatthey
believetobethebestcourseofactionatthetime,gunningdownsomebodywalkingthrougha
WalMartwithanunloadedpelletgunseemstobeabitprematureeveniftheofficerhadno
wayofknowingwhetherornotthegunwasloaded,[Link]
inmindthatnopoliceshootingsoccurredwhenanationalBringYourGuntoStarbucksday
wasorganizedby(mostlywhite)progunrightsactivistsinAugustof2013inresponseto
Starbucksannouncementthattheywouldadheretoopencarrypoliciesintheirstores,the
factthatacustomerwouldbeshotandkilledforshoppingseemstobeabitmorethan
[Link]
thefactthathewasblack,norwasthewhitemalewhocalled911certainlymotivatedby
racialfactors,butthenarrativepaintedbythemediaandsocietyatlargeportraysblackmen
asdangerous,brutish,[Link]
individualleveltoaffectindividuallives.

BodyontheStreet=SkeletonsintheCloset:DehumanizingandJustifyingtheDeaths
ofBlackMen
InFebruaryof2012,unarmed17yearoldTrayvonMartinwasshotdeadinanactof
[Link]
nightintheSanford,FloridaneighborhoodwherehisfatherlivedwhenZimmermansawhim
andcalled911,[Link]
disregardedtheinstructionsofthedispatchertoremaininhisvehicleandnotapproachMartin
andconfrontedtheyoungman,[Link]
theuseofdeadlyforcewhenfacedwithalifethreateningconflictZimmermanclaimstohave
fearedforhislifeandthusshotandkilledMartin.

SimilartothemorerecentpoliceshootingcasesofJohnCrawfordIIIandMichael
Brown,itisdifficulttoconvictZimmermanforhavingracistmotives,butthefactthathumans
donotexistinavacuum,separatefromtheinfluenceofthemediaandsociety,gives
reasonablecausetobelievethatGeorgeZimmermansawathreatnotbecauseTrayvon
Martinwasengaginginanysortofsuspiciousactivity,butratherbecausehewasablack
[Link]
eventualtrialofGeorgeZimmerman,throughoutwhichmanyoutletssoughttodiscreditthe
characterofTrayvonMartin,speakingofthefactthathemayhavedonedrugsorbeen
[Link]
manygangrelatedshootingsinpoorurbancentersemphasizingtheillegalordangerous
activitiesinwhichonemayhavebeeninvolvedcangivecausetojustifytheirdeathor
victimhoodinanactofviolence.

ScratchingtheSurface:ARandomActofViolence?
TheChicagoTribunereportedontheOctober24shootinginSouthAustinwhichleft
[Link]
JoshuaGrayer,both19,havebeenchargedwithfirstdegreemurderandarebeingheld
[Link]:Thetwovictimswerestandinginacourtyardinthe
5500blockofWestCorcoranPlacewhensomeoneapproachedthemandfiredshotsalittle
[Link],ChicagopolicespokesmanOfficerHectorAlfarosaidsoonafterthe
shooting.The23yearold,lateridentifiedasFranklin,wasshotinthefaceandarmpitand
waspronounceddeadatthescene,[Link]'soffice
didnothaveinformationonFranklin'shomeaddress.Hewaspronounceddeadat10:45p.m.
atthescene,themedicalexaminer'sofficesaid.The24yearoldwaswoundedinthearm,

andhetransportedhimselftoWestSuburbanMedicalCenterinOakPark,wherehis
[Link]
CentralandNorthPineavenues,enclosingthesideofafourstoryredbrickbuildingandthe
[Link]
[Link]
astheyfoundoutthedetails.
Thelackofdetailssurroundingthiscase,aswellasthelackofdetailgiventomany
reportsofviolenceinvolvingthedeathofyoungmenofcolorinparticular,speaksnotonlyto
thefrequencyofdeathsinthesecommunitiesbutalsothesensationalisminwhichthemedia
[Link],the
samestorywillonlycontinuetoplayitselfoutinthefutureiftheissuesunderlyingseemingly
[Link]
andthebroadersocialsystemthatservestosupportandprovideopportunityforthoseinthe
majorityoftendrivesandmotivatesadeviantsubcultureinwhichviolenceisseenasindeed,
[Link]
detailsofashootingmakesabetteroneanddonenewsreport,butdoesnotactuallyspeakto
therealissues.
UNConventiononGenocide:WorldwideViolenceAgainstMinorities
December9th,2014markedthe66thanniversaryofthesigningofthe1948Genocide
[Link],theUnitedNationsSecretaryGeneralsSpecialAdviseron
PreventionofGenocide,detailedsomeoftheprecursorystepstogenocideinspeakingabout
preventingfuturegenocideinourworldinaspeechcommemoratingtheConventions
[Link]

cleansingofapeoplegroupdoesnotoccurinavacuum,andthereareconsistencies
[Link],accordingtoDieng,
beginstofallwithintherealmofpossibilitywheneveronegroupbeginstodehumanize
anothergroupofpeopleandjustifytheirslaughterbasedsolelyonwhotheyare,notwhat
[Link]
genocidedidnotstartwiththeslayingbothofthesestartedwiththedehumanizationofa
[Link]
butaprocessthattakestime,planningandresourceswhichcouldbehaltedatanystage
wemustacceptthatthereisnopartoftheworldthatcanconsideritselfimmunefromtherisk
ofgenocideandallregionsandallStatesmustbuildresiliencetothesecrimes,Diengsays.
Itistruethatviolenceagainstanypeoplegroupatthehandofanotheralwaysinvolves
[Link]
enslavementintheUSAlawswereliterallywrittenintoournationsbooksdenyingblacks
recognitionashumans,[Link]
currenttreatmentofmanyurbanghettosanddisplacedindigenoustribesacrosstheUSAmay
[Link]
lifespanandtheinordinatelyhighratesofdiseaseamongthelessfortunateamongus,it
couldbearguedthataformofraceandclassbaseddehumanizationisalreadytakingeffect
[Link]
[Link]
WrongPlace,WrongTime
onlywhenonehasbeen
completelydehumanizedcantheybekilledbasedonanarbitrarybasiswithoutasecond
[Link],nocountryorregionisimperviousto
genocide,includingtheUnitedStates.

ISISInNorthAfrica&theMiddleEast
TheGatestoneInstituteInternationalPolicyCouncil,apoliticallyconservativethink
tankofwhichJohnBoltonservesaschair,releasedanarticledetailingmanyoftheatrocities
committedbytheIslamicStateagainstreligiousminoritiesinthecountriestheyoccupy,
[Link],thearticle,Rapingand
BeheadingtheFaithful,describesthesystematicattackbeingcarriedoutonthosewhostand
[Link]
havebeenburnttotheground,womenraped,Christianleadersexiled,imprisoned,and
executed,parentshaveattemptedmurderingtheirnewlyconvertedChristianchildrenthe
[Link],andtheGatestone
Instituteseemstosuggestthatareligiouscleansingoftheregionisathandpossiblyeven
beyondtheMiddleEast.
AsthecrisisintheMiddleEastgoeson,severalthingsareapparent.
First
,thereisa
harshdisconnectbetweenthetwomainfactionsinthisnarrative(MuslimsandChristians).
Regardlessofwhoisthemoreresponsiblepartyfortherelationalgapexistingbetweenthe
two,thefactthatparentsandchildrenaremortallypittedagainstoneanotherspeaksvolumes
[Link]
childcantheyreachthepointwhentheyattempttomurdertheirownoffspringthefamilyties
haveclearlybeensevered,[Link]
obviouslyanextremeexampleoftheconsequencethatcomesfromdiscountingthehumanity
ofanotherperson,itissomethingthatmustbeconsideredbyallhumansregardlessof
whetherornottheyhaveanyparticularreligiousinclinationsthatmayleadthemtoslaughter
[Link],andsome
dosoinwaystheymightnotevenrealize(suchasperpetuatingdangerousstereotypesabout

minorities,failingtoimplementeffectiveandequitablepolicy,orturningablindeyeto
lifeshorteninginjusticeoccurringintheirowncity).
Additionally
,thecircumstancesthathave
leadtoanenvironmentinwhichChristiansaresohatedthattheyhavebecometargetsfor
[Link]
conceptofjihad(holywar)andthedesireforimplementationofaworldwideIslamicState
bothplaymajor,probablydominant,rolesintheeventsoccurringintheMiddleEast,the
ChristiannationoftheUSAhasnotbeenparticularlygoodtothatregionoftheworldover
[Link].S.
operationssupposedlyaimedatdisposingofradicalmilitantscertainlyaggravatesand
provokespeoplewhomayotherwisehavenotbecomegenocidalorembitteredtowardthe
UnitedStatesorChristiansworldwidetojoinorsupporttheactivitiesofradicalgroupssuchas
[Link]
lookingsimilartorealtargets,[Link]
complexityofthissituationcannotbeignoredifasolutionistobereached,norcangroupsof
peoplecontinuetreatingoneanotherasinherentlysubhumanbecauseofracialbackground
orreligiouspreference.

ViolenceintheFormofEmploymentDeficit
ThePacificNorthwest,alongwithmuchoftherestofthewestcoastoftheUnited
States,[Link]
suchasMicrosoft,Amazon,andNintendoallhavenationalheadquartersinthisregionofthe
country,andopportunityseemstoproliferateformanywhoseektofindemploymentinthe
technologysector,yetminoritiesarestillunderrepresentedintheworkforceeveninthissort
[Link],TheSaltLakeTribune

reportedonaseriesofvisitstothePacificNorthwestbyTheReverendJesseJackson
respondingtoseveralcitiesprotestsoccurringinresponsetotheeventssurroundingthe
deathofMichaelBrownandnonindictmentofofficerDarrenWilsoninFerguson,MO.
Jacksoncallsfortechnologycompaniestoscaleupthehiringofminoritiesandthe
otherwiseunderprivilegedinsociety,sayingthattherootissueofviolenceisnotviolencein
andofitself,butratherracialandeconomicdisparities.
"Wedonothaveatechnologydeficit,
wehaveanopportunitydeficit,"saysJackson,[Link]
mainthrustofJacksonsobservation,thatinequalityisagreatcontributortoviolenceand
servestoperpetuateinequitablesystems,isonealsomadebyDavidTrouttin
ThePriceof
Paradise
.Whendiscussingviolence,theprovisionofeconomicmobilitymustalsobe
addressedprovidingjobswillnotcompletelyaddress
all
theissuescontributingtothe
pervasivenessofviolentbehaviorinminoritycommunities,butfailingtorecognizeinequality
asbothacausalandsustainingfactorwilldoomanyefforttocurbviolencebeforeiteven
begins.

CIATorture:UnconstitutionalViolenceAgainstPresumedMilitants
ThereleaseofSenatefindingsonthepost9/[Link]
shockandoutrageovertheCIAsabuses,andrenewedcallsfortheprosecutionofthe
[Link]
methodsusedonprisoners:waterboarding,sexualabusewithbroomsticks,"rectalfeeding"or
"rectalhydration."[Link]
deprivedofsleepforupto180hours,attimeswiththeirhandsshackledabovetheirheads.
ThetorturewascarriedoutatblacksitesinAfghanistan,Lithuania,Romania,Poland,
Thailand,andasecretsiteontheGuantnamoNavalBaseknownasStrawberryFields.

SpeakingontheSenatefloor,thechairoftheSenateIntelligenceCommittee,Dianne
Feinstein,saidthereportforcestheUnitedStatestosay"neveragain."Thereportconcludes
theCIA
failedtodisruptasingleplot
despitetorturingalQaedaandothercaptivesinsecret
[Link]
misledthemedia,CongressandtheWhiteHouseonthetorturemethodsandtheir
ineffectiveness([Link]).
PerhapsthemoststrikingthingregardingtheentiredebacleinvolvingtheCIAtorturing
prisonersespeciallytheirhiding

andlyingaboutthefactthattheyweredoingsoisthe
complete,[Link]
notedbysome,eveniftheCIAweretohaveextractedinformationfromasubjectbeing
tortured,thereisnoguaranteethattheinformationwouldbeaccurateorusefulpeoplewill
saymanythingsinordertopreventbeingmutilatedwithapowerdrill,whetherthosethings
[Link]
[Link]
wereconvictedorsuspectedterrorists,manyofwhomwerelikelytohavebeenwillingtogive
uptheirentirelivesforthesakeofcarryingouttheirmission,itisfarfetchedtobelievethat
torturewouldbeaneffectivemethodofinterrogationandthedataagreewiththisargument.
Thisviolenceagainstanenemycombatantaftertheirhavingbeenneutralized,regardlessof
theirinitialintenttodestroyordisrupt,exhibitsdehumanizationanddevaluingofbasichuman
dignitythesamebasicchargesleviedagainstthosewhomtheytortureagainstalleged
[Link]
theirefficacyininterrogationandpromotingthesafetyandhumanityofallhumans,theymay
wanttofindadifferentwaythanphysical,psychological,andemotionaltortureto"enhance"
theirmethods.


SexualViolenceinBurma:RapeasanIntimidationFactor
AreportbytheWomensLeagueofBurma(WLB)saystheuseofsexualviolenceis
sowidespreadinethnicminorityareasthatabusesmayconstitutewarcrimesandcrimes
[Link]
systematicallyusessexualviolenceagainstwomenincludinggangrapebysoldiersto
demoraliseanddestroythefabricofethnic[minority]communitiesandestablishcontrolover
resourcerichareas.Highlighting118incidencesofrape,gangrapeandsexualassaultin
bothceasefireandnonceasefireareasatthehandsofBurmasarmedforcessince2010,the
reportprovidesdamningevidenceformajorhumanrightsviolationsbutnotesthatthese
figuresarelikelytobeafractionofthenumberofabusesactuallytakingplaceduetoa
prevailingcultureofimpunityandintimidationpreventingwomenfromreportingthecrimesor
[Link]
rightsabuses,[Link]
commitsrape,theywillgotothesurvivorshousetoapologise,andoffersomecompensation.
[Link]
soldiersismadepublic,theywillquicklybemovedtoanotherbasebeforetheycanbeheldto
account(TheGuardian).
Rapeisdehumanizinganddegradingbydefinitiontakinganotherpersonasanobject
againsttheirwillforthepurposeofexploitingandintimidatingthemdeniesanotherpersonof
[Link]
happensatthehandofagovernmentparty,however,[Link]
factosanctionedrapeoccurringatthehandoftheBurmesearmyisadirectattackonthe
humanityandworthofethnicminoritycommunitiesinwhichitoccurs,anddehumanizationis

[Link]
areassomeofthesecrimesarehappening,itcouldverywellbethatoneofthenextstepsin
thenaturaltrajectoryofdehumanization,intimidation,abuse,andrapeisslaughterona
[Link]
consequence,howmuchfurthermustthingsprogressbeforetakinglivesisokay?Stepsmust
betakeninthissituationtoholdthesoldiersaccountableforanypastactionsandtrainfuture
militarypersonnelinthesociologicalaspectsofenforcinglegitimized,earnedcontrolovera
[Link],attheend,leadtotrueloyaltyor
respectamongcitizens.

ViolentDiscriminationAgainstReligiousMinoritiesinIndonesia
ReligiousminoritiesinIndonesiaarehopingtheactionsofPresidentJokoWidodo's
administrationwillhaveapositiveimpactonthesituationofreligiousminoritiesinthecountry
withtheworld'[Link]
religiousintolerance,whichhumanrightsgroupssaywereignoredundertheadministrationof
formerPresidentSusiloBambangYudhoyono."Theprotectionforminoritygroups,beit
religiousgroups,tribesorracesmustbeconductedoptimally,"saidpolicerepresentative
[Link]
ofYudhoyono,rightsactivistssayhefailedtoprotectminoritiesinIndonesia,asviolence
[Link]
majority,whohavebeenaccusedastheperpetratorsofthreatsandviolentattacksagainst
[Link]
blasphemychargesagainstleadersofminoritygroups.

Dividingpowerandprivilegeunevenlyamongracial,gender,religious,oranyother
demographiclinesleadstothedominantgrouptakingadvantageofthesubservientgroup.
Thishasbeendemonstratedthroughoutworldhistoryinmanyways,notonlyagainstreligious
minoritiesinIndonesiabutalsowithblacksacrosstheUSAfromJamestownColonyon
throughuntiltoday,occupiedPalestiniansintheWestBankandtheGazaStrip,anda
[Link]
rightsofminoritygroupscanminoritiesexperienceanythingclosetothesamerightsasthe
[Link]
[Link],sincetherightsofminoritieswerenotprotectedunder
Yudhoyono,[Link]
neverhappensquickly,nordoesithappenovernightittakestime,butifactivemeasures
areputinplacetopromotetruetoleranceandrespectandenforcedbythosewhoholdpower,
opportunitywillincreaseforthosefromtheoutsidetogainaccesstothestructuresthathave
oppressedthemforsolong.

NorthsideViolenceinChicago
ABC7NewsinChicagorecentlyreportedonafatalaltercationinvolvingMokaram
Rauf,whowaswalkingwithhisbrother,Muhatir,whentheywerejumpedinRogersPark.
Muhatir,a23yearoldpremedstudentatnearbyLoyolaUniversityandrecentNorthwestern
Universitygraduate,wasfatallyshotduringtheattemptedrobberyFriday,December5th.
Whenwetalkaboutmovingon,[Link]'snotaboutcatching
[Link]'saboutunderstandingwhythis
happened,[Link]
[Link]

thegunwasn'[Link]
wasshotintheheadandchest,[Link]
Rauffamilysaiditisseekingpeace,[Link]
LoyolaUniversity(ABC7Chicago).
ThisarticlebyABC7isperhapsthemostimpressivearticleIhavecomeacrossinall
[Link],thebrotherofthemanslaininthisrobbery,
hasoneofthemostwelldevelopedperspectivesonthecomplexityofviolenceandits
[Link]
shotandkilledbynofaultofhisown,whichistragic,Mokaramspeaksdirectlyofthegreater
epidemicof
poverty
asbeingoneofthegreatercausesofviolenceratherthanmyopically
[Link]
sensationallyfocusonthe
murder
orthe
shooting
orwhatevertheactofviolencehappenedto
bewithoutevenpretendingtoaddressthecomplexnatureofwhyviolenceoccurs,thiswasa
[Link]
public,particularlythewhitemajority,isinformedenoughtoengageanddialoguewiththese
issuesonanintelligentlevel,themedianeedstofollowthispatternofreportingnewsstories
relatedtoviolenceinminoritycommunitiesthelatterwillnothappenwithouttheformer.