Members of the local Pacific Islander community called a meeting tonight (June 4) with Long Beach Police Department officials to discuss concerns about racial profiling and public safety.
The meeting -- scheduled to run from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Silverado Park Community Center, 3150 Santa Fe Ave. -- comes on the heels of Police Chief Anthony Batts recent comments that his department is working to avoid problems in the community related to the annual Flag Day celebration in Carson.
Every June, the celebration is enjoyed by large numbers of Pacific Islanders. But almost every year, the celebration turns to violence as the day wears on and much of the violence spills over into Long Beach, Batts said.
Fueling some of the violence are clashes between Pacific Islander youths who are members of a rival gang with one of Long Beach's oldest gangs, the chief said in April.
Part of a recent uptick in gang violence, the chief said, can be attributed to residents from other communities, including Compton and Carson, moving into the Long Beach area, specifically noting an influx of Samoan and Tongan residents.
Rumors in North Long Beach neighborhoods hit hard by gang violence have speculated that members of the Sons of Samoa are moving into the city and vying for control in areas formerly dominated by the West Coast Crips.
The Pacific Islander community called tonight's meeting to discuss various issues with police, including stereotypes and racial profiling of their youth; the safety of Pacific Islanders at public places, such as parks, beaches, streets and malls; a gang database and ways for the Pacific Islander community to assist police with keeping the city safe.
Public notice of the meeting was sent to the Press-Telegram less than 30 minutes before it was scheduled to begin.
The meeting -- scheduled to run from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Silverado Park Community Center, 3150 Santa Fe Ave. -- comes on the heels of Police Chief Anthony Batts recent comments that his department is working to avoid problems in the community related to the annual Flag Day celebration in Carson.
Every June, the celebration is enjoyed by large numbers of Pacific Islanders. But almost every year, the celebration turns to violence as the day wears on and much of the violence spills over into Long Beach, Batts said.
Fueling some of the violence are clashes between Pacific Islander youths who are members of a rival gang with one of Long Beach's oldest gangs, the chief said in April.
Part of a recent uptick in gang violence, the chief said, can be attributed to residents from other communities, including Compton and Carson, moving into the Long Beach area, specifically noting an influx of Samoan and Tongan residents.
Rumors in North Long Beach neighborhoods hit hard by gang violence have speculated that members of the Sons of Samoa are moving into the city and vying for control in areas formerly dominated by the West Coast Crips.
The Pacific Islander community called tonight's meeting to discuss various issues with police, including stereotypes and racial profiling of their youth; the safety of Pacific Islanders at public places, such as parks, beaches, streets and malls; a gang database and ways for the Pacific Islander community to assist police with keeping the city safe.
Public notice of the meeting was sent to the Press-Telegram less than 30 minutes before it was scheduled to begin.
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