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KANSAS CITY, MO -
The sketch of the Waldo Rapist is leading to allegations of vigilante attitudes towards African American men, as activists say that they are concerned that Waldo will be known as a place where it's alright to run off a black man, and that with a racial divide in place the crimes will not be solved.
"Literally, parents are discussing 'Don't go to Waldo'," said activist and city council candidate Michael Fletcher.
The controversy comes a week after a white Waldo resident spotted a man he thought could be the rapist, and followed him to Kansas City, Kansas, where the man, who was not the rapist, took a shot at the Waldo resident's car.
"The Caucasian community should say, 'Hey, this isn't us'," said Fletcher, who with other activists say that vigilance is turning into vigilantism.
"Every mother is fearing for the life of her son, her husband, her brother," said Saundra McFadden Weaver.
But not everyone in the African American community agrees with the activists claims.
"I think people are using common sense," said Laverne Tehee, who says that she's not telling her son to stay out of Waldo. "Because they have a description of the guy, so I don't think we're in any danger walking around."
But the activists disagree. They say that the alienating a segment of the community could reduce the chances of catching the rapist. Plus, they say that the description of the suspect is too vague.
"I really don't know what this man looks like," said activist Alonzo Washington. "Light skin, dark skin is a big aesthetic for African-Americans."
The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department did not want to comment on this story, but in his blog Police Chief Jim Corwin advises people to know all the information available, and look for suspicious behavior that matches that information, not just skin color.
"Literally, parents are discussing 'Don't go to Waldo'," said activist and city council candidate Michael Fletcher.
The controversy comes a week after a white Waldo resident spotted a man he thought could be the rapist, and followed him to Kansas City, Kansas, where the man, who was not the rapist, took a shot at the Waldo resident's car.
"The Caucasian community should say, 'Hey, this isn't us'," said Fletcher, who with other activists say that vigilance is turning into vigilantism.
"Every mother is fearing for the life of her son, her husband, her brother," said Saundra McFadden Weaver.
But not everyone in the African American community agrees with the activists claims.
"I think people are using common sense," said Laverne Tehee, who says that she's not telling her son to stay out of Waldo. "Because they have a description of the guy, so I don't think we're in any danger walking around."
But the activists disagree. They say that the alienating a segment of the community could reduce the chances of catching the rapist. Plus, they say that the description of the suspect is too vague.
"I really don't know what this man looks like," said activist Alonzo Washington. "Light skin, dark skin is a big aesthetic for African-Americans."
The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department did not want to comment on this story, but in his blog Police Chief Jim Corwin advises people to know all the information available, and look for suspicious behavior that matches that information, not just skin color.
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