Exploiting Atlanta's Grief

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Residents now fear even for their town's good name

Atlanta has not been so besieged since the Civil War. Within the city, unknown killers have murdered 20 black youths in the past 20 months. Children are afraid to play outdoors; adults are afraid to let them. Anguished by the murders, Atlantans are also anxious about the barrage of publicity that is ruining its reputation as "the city too busy to hate." Journalists, con men and publicity seekers are all exploiting Atlanta's grief.

A newly formed Black Leadership Coalition, which was brought together to combat community fragmentation and includes Georgia State Assemblyman Tyrone Brooks and State Senator Julian Bond, last week denounced the "circus atmosphere" created by the worldwide publicity: They added: "When the tragedy of death is coupled with opportunism, vigilante action and fraudulent fund raising, concerned citizens must speak out."

To many Atlantans, however, the wrong people are speaking out. Although there is no evidence to support his thesis, Chicago-based Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson told an audience in Washington, D.C., that the Atlanta murders are part of a nationwide racial conspiracy. His conclusion: "It is open season on black people." The Communist Workers Revolutionary and Socialist Workers parties in Atlanta have joined mass rallies on behalf of the Atlanta children. Complains Camille Bell, head of the Committee to Stop Children's Murders (STOP) and mother of a victim, about the activities of such outsiders: "Those leeches follow us around and talk about 'the racist murders' when we don't know what the motivation is."

Like looters after a disaster, there are those capitalizing on Atlanta's tragedy. People have been arrested for collecting money for the victims' families without any authorization, presumably intending to pocket the proceeds. Officials of major Atlanta businesses say they are being bombarded by requests for contributions. Some financial exploitation is being done by people far removed from the murders. In Chicago, men posing as ministers collected $50 each from 75 people for a bus trip to Atlanta. When the donors met for the trip in a shopping center, the buses —and ministers—never showed up. Assemblyman Brooks has received similar complaints of illegal fundraising from California, New Orleans and Detroit.