Black neighborhoods in Hartford, Connecticut, have enlisted groups of armed citizens to patrol their streets, a move they hope will reduce the prevalence of violent crime in the area, The Journal reported. New York Post.
The group, calling itself the “Self-Defense Brigade,” is made up of about 40 legally armed civilians who volunteer and wear body cameras to patrol Hartford’s North End neighborhoods, and typically patrol the streets at night and on weekends.
“I believe in self-defense, but I try to eliminate it in every possible way.”
The group also uses drones and 75 home surveillance systems to monitor the footage and pinpoint potential crime locations.
Founder of the group, Cornell LewisHe blamed Democrats for being responsible, saying, “The Democratic Party in Hartford is either unwilling or unable to do anything, and people are paying their taxes and not actually getting any services.”
“So we want the public to understand, first of all, that self-defense is not a dirty word.”
But the group has not gone uncriticized: Hartford’s Democratic mayor, Arunan Arulampalam, reportedly denounced the group, fearing it would morph into a vigilante group.
“Our community has experienced a lot of pain and trauma, and what we need is for those who love our city to work hard to heal that pain, not for people roaming the streets with guns and trying to enforce the law in their own hands,” Arulampalam said in a statement to Fox News.
a Focus on the second report Lewis said he wants to train people to learn how to defend themselves in situations where police won’t respond, and he also believes in de-escalation.
“I believe in self-defense, but I will try to stop it in any way I can,” Lewis said. “But if it’s clear that they’re going to attack us or pull out a weapon, then we have the right to defend ourselves.”
Lewis also denies that the group’s members are vigilantes, claiming that all members are trained in discipline and legal security, according to The Washington Post.
All members of the group have legal permits to carry concealed weapons, but Lewis said he is a fourth-degree black belt and has also trained members in martial arts.
The group began patrolling the streets after two men were found dead and left outside Walk in the Light Church of God in February last year.
“I think we’ve really reduced crime,” Archbishop Dexter Burke said. “I think we’ve had a success rate of over 100 percent.”
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