The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.62/No.31           September 7, 1998 
 
 
Don't Try Youths As Adults  
The case of two Black boys, ages seven and eight, charged with murder in Chicago has been sensationalized in the national media. These two children are portrayed as brutal, aggressive monsters. The August 11 Chicago Tribune headline summed up the line: "Police say suspects not too small to kill." This is part of the rulers' offensive to criminalize youth and blame them for society's ills.

The investigation of the murder of 11-year-old Ryan Harris has been a travesty of justice from start to finish. With no physical evidence and no witnesses - and dismissing other leads - the cops hauled two young children into the police station, interrogated them for hours, charged them with first- degree murder, and called the case closed. The police have pushed the boundaries of what they can get away with in disregarding the democratic rights of the accused children, including the right to a lawyer, protections against self- incrimination, and the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is part of a broader campaign nationally to convince working people that there is a wave of "child crime" - an assertion used to justify a culture war against youth, particularly those who are Black or Latino.

"Unless we, as a society, act to nip tormented kids in the bud, try to anticipate trouble before it happens, there may be more horrific incidents, like the one in which the 7-and 8-year old are charged. ...Our future as a civilized, compassionate and functioning society is a stake," declares an editorial in the Chicago Defender. Commentaries like this promote the idea that there are some people who are just born evil and are bringing down "civilized culture."

The government's answer is to apply adult courts and prison sentences to young people. The Texas Legislature has even debated imposing the death penalty on children as young as 11, although the actual execution would be postponed until he or she turned 17. Cities in other states have passed gang laws, curfew laws, and imposed metal detectors in the public schools.

In face of these facts, working people and all supporters of democratic rights should join in protesting the criminalization and brutal treatment of the seven- and eight-year-old. We should demand:

End the harassment of the children and their families! No youth to be tried or sentenced as adults! Drop the charges against the boys!  
 
 
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