Tel-Chai Nation

Coming shortly after a ludicrious DVD that was being distributed in Baltimore comes a T-shirt whose apparent function is to intimidate people into not speaking out against crime that reads as "stop snitchin" and even "don't talk 2 police". As the Philadelphia Weekly reports, this junk has actually been marketed round town, in Prime Sports and in hip-hop vending stores.

The shirt in question says "STOP SNITCHIN," and variations are available at hip-hop clothing stores and vending stands throughout the city. PW recently reported that Prime Sports near Broad and Chestnut was selling six versions of the shirt, including one with two gun scopes aimed at the chest, and another that demands in big red letters: "DON'T TALK 2 POLICE."

The shirts, which sell for about $20, come on the heels of the infamous Stop Snitching DVD that began circulating in Baltimore last year. In one scene a man threatens that anyone snitching on drug dealers will "get a hole in his head."

Law enforcement and antiviolence groups believe the shirts aggravate an already chronic problem of witness intimidation.

And they're rightfully concerned too. And then, Prime Sports thinks that they can get the ensuing hassle off their backs by transferring them to another store, as told here:

Last Friday, upon learning that Prime Sports had moved the shirts to another store location after agreeing to stop selling them, Jones, along with other members of Men United for a Better Philadelphia and members of Mothers in Charge-both grassroots antiviolence groups-protested outside the store, calling for a citywide boycott of businesses selling the T-shirts.

I would strongly recommend to anyone who lives in the area to join the boycott against Prime Sports for their stupidity in selling this kind of stuff. It's insulting to both law enforcers and the rank and file public alike, and the store probably even be put out of business for this atrocity.

Labels: United States