The first time I saw one of these shirts was two days ago when, I kid you not, we had him and his buddies up against a wall because when one of our officers was trying to break up a fight, one of them donkey-punched the officer in the back of the head.

Xoxotl:

I hope the cop treated the kid to some free dental work.

Geez! The most irreverent Jesse Jackson is commenting on TV on Pat Robertson (Pot calling the Kettle. . .) Wonder whether he and that other least reverend, Sharpton, will do or say aything about this.

What incenses me is the complete lack of corporate responsiblity in this country regarding cultural issues.

These t-shirts weren't being sold in the streets. They were being sold in retail outlets. Just another corporation taking a big, fat dump into the tank of cultural sewage that is inner city America.

I guess it doesn't bother the board room honchos that they promote an attitude that stymies crime prevention and probably gets people killed. Nope, just make that money. Besides, it isn't their neighborhood now is it?

Send this article to your local talk radio stations. People will be outraged. Self annointed spokesmen for the black community should have their feet held to the fire over this.

Thank you for pointing this out. I see these t-shirts once or twice a week here in NYC. Their message is so far out of the range of civilized behavior I think I have to mentally block them out to keep from going Bernard Goetz.

The other day I saw a black nanny with a couple of white toddlers, and the nanny was wearing a fist-raised Malcolm X t-shirt that exclaimed, "By any means necessary." I wondered what kind of parent would hand their children over that! It doesn't take much imagination to see that as a direct threat to the children entrusted to her. The Upper West Side mother probably bought her the shirt out of a guilt complex......

The experience of blacks in this country has impelled them, understandably enough, to create an adversarial counter-culture against the white majority.

Excuse me??? What in God's name are you talking about? Do you mean the ever swelling ranks of multi millionaire sports players - or maybe the multi-millionaire tv and movie stars? How about the huge black middle class? Could it be that there is resentment against BAD BEHAVIOUR? Bad behaviour that so many play off as racism? Give us a break - please. You have a good point - but don't provide a tired , old well worn excuse for abhorrant anti social behaviour for those who don't deserve it.

I'm not attempting to provide a justification for abhorrent nihilistic violent behavior.

I'm saying that it is quite understandable that blacks will seek to rebel, given their history, against what they take to be a white power structure that seeks to do them harm. (A lot of that is conspiracy-mongering bullshit, but there is enough there that it's understandable why so many think in these terms.)

I'm only saying that one can express rebellion or rejectivism in different ways. The way that many poor blacks do -- glorifying crime and violence, celebrating what is essentially a pre-civilisation code of the strong to attack, kill, and rob from the weak -- is a poor choice to express this rebellion.

And I wish that would change.

Having lived in Oakland, CA for 15 years...this doesn't surprise me in the least.

In order to rid my Lake Merritt neighborhood of ever-encroaching drug dealers and prostitutes, I posted warning flyers up and down my street that stated the area was being monitored for illegal drug and prostitution activity. Furthermore it stated that descriptions and/or license plate numbers of anyone caught in the act of committing these crimes would be given to the police.

So how did many of my fellow black neighbors decide to repay my civic diligence? By labeling my signs "fascist" and "racist" then tearing them down. I couldn't fucking believe my eyes.

Here I was...just a mere apartment renter...trying to help save their homes and businesses from crime. I can't even begin to describe the level of disappoint I felt.

Having grown up in the Jim Crow South, I saw first hand how many blacks had to fight and scrape just to make their way in the world. I will never forget the level of courage and dignity they demonstrated in the face of hatred and adversity.

Having witnessed such pride and self-respect, I just couldn't fathom why my neighbors would not want to fight to keep their streets safe from crime and violence.

This incident was just the beginning of many more to come…incidents that would finally open my eyes to the characteristic danger of Liberalism. Because you see my brothers and sisters, at that time, I was a liberal.

Within 6 months...my bags were packed and I was on my way to the lovely gentrified neighborhood of Valley Village (aka Studio City), CA

It took 15 years of living in one of the most socialist/democratic areas in America to become the hardened conservative I am today.

I'm sorta like an ex-smoker...I despise liberals more than most because I used to be one.

Aaaanyywhooo....

could it be that these people are the result of a fucked up, zero responsibility culture? No psycho-babble excuses needed here - just clear headed rational thinking.

"glorifying crime and violence, celebrating what is essentially a pre-civilisation code of the strong to attack, kill, and rob from the weak -- is a poor choice to express this rebellion."

If they are/were dicked over, then who are the strong and who are the weak? That is interesting logic.

What George said.

Ugly American,

My middle class neighborhood borders public housing in an area that was once nice, but has slowly degenerated into an unsafe shithole.

Every day I drive by that public housing and I see able-bodied young men loitering about and wasting time. My mail has been stolen by punks looking for cash, the kids who come to my door for Halloween candy are ill-mannered and overly aggressive, and my wife is afraid to even enter the convenience store down the street (it makes me nervous, too, and I've been in more of my fair share of brawls).

I truly wish a better life for the people who live here, but it begins with personal responsiblity, and God knows we're ages from fixing the problem when anyone who even mentions black illegitimacy or crime rates is villified as a racist. Thank the bleeding heart liberals for this, and thank shameless corporate management for perpetuating a culture of failure by promoting it through t-shirt sales, videos, and cds.

As for me? Fuck everyone else; my (future) kids aren't going to be subjected to this bullshit. We'll be moving to a nice, clean, lilly-white suburb as soon as I can put together the jack. Some would say that makes me a bigot. I say it makes me a good husband and father.

No explanations required here. I feeeell yer paaaaaiiin...heheheheh

Best of luck to getting the hell out of there as soon as possible.

There's nothing racist about wanting to live in a clean, safe neighborhood.

Actually, the article slightly misdescribes the shirts. They are not, as the Aurora police appear to claim, "anti-police." The "Stop Snitching" slogan originated in Baltimore, I believe. The message literally is, "If a citizen is suspected of reporting criminal activity to law enforcement, that citizen's life is forfeit."

Witness intimidation has gotten to be a major problem, especially in Baltimore. I have heard (but not seen) that some defendants are wearing these shirts to their own criminal trials. It's a crude but very effective measure.

Stop Snitchin’ T-Shirts, Pushing Fashion with a Bold Statement

From Boston to Baltimore, the "Stop Snitchin’" or "Stop Snitching" t-shirts have been hitting the streets hard and can be seen on inner city to suburban youth who purchase urban apparel. The Stop Snitchin’ t-shirt has been manufactured by Antonio Ansaldi for five years now, with a following in Boston and throughout the country with retail, internet and catalog orders. The company usually has back-orders for the once exclusive design which features the Stop Snitchin’ text on a city stop sign but now has seen a sharp increase in sales since the controversy involving the statement of the shirt.

Antonio Ansaldi has always faced criticism for this t-shirt from Boston Police but continues to sell them because the sales and demand for the shirt speaks for itself. Since the creation of the Stop Snitchin’ t-shirt in 2000, Antonio Ansaldi has continued to release new styles of the Stop Snitchin’ t-shirt throughout the years for their loyal customers. The popularity of the "Stop Snitching DVD" (unaffiliated with Antonio Ansaldi) and music video by rapper/entrepreneur Jim Jones, of the multi-platinum selling rap group Diplomats, has lead to the popularity of the knockoff design with "Stop Snitching" that retails in urban apparel stores throughout the country. The new unofficial t-shirts are hot sellers in these stores because customers want to wear a t-shirt like their favorite rappers are wearing in music videos.

Police, city officials, and community groups from Boston to Philadelphia claim that the shirt deters witnesses and victims from cooperating with the law. They say that the Stop Snitchin’ t-shirt encourages a code of silence that intimidates one not to "snitch" on the murderers, drug dealers, and criminals who may reside in their communities. Many retailers would say that it is "just a shirt" and it is a fashion fad that will surely pass. Fashion fad or not, "Freedom of Expression is NOT intimidation!" The t-shirt does not give anyone an ultimatum nor does it threaten anyone who may want to "Start Snitchin'". However, it does say in the Miranda rights recited by police officers, "You have the right to remain silent!" whenever someone is placed under arrest, but when "we" tell each other that "You have the right to remain silent!" then all of a sudden it becomes intimidation or promoting violence. The Stop Snitchin' t-shirt has been one of the most successfully selling items for Antonio Ansaldi for the past 5 years and even when the controversy dies down, the company will have no problem selling this now nostalgic item. The fact that this shirt is a hot seller does point to an underlying problem that plagues most urban communities today.

"Snitching" or "Snitchin’" is negative because it often has a detrimental impact on the person that reports to the authorities that promise to protect them. The harsh reality is that a "snitch" is usually not respected or protected by the authorities they report to. Authorities promise to protect a witness when in fact they are used for testimony, threatened to be exposed if they don't comply with demands and then thrown back into the same community where they and their family are now susceptible to violence as retaliation for testimony. Many of the people that disclose information to the police have credibility issues. There are countless innocent men and women currently incarcerated because of the snitch factor. Others use the system to plea bargain for a lesser charge by concocting stories and events that never occurred in order to garner reduced or no jail time themselves. In the "hood" where this phrase is used, anyone that "snitches" usually is not embraced with love and affection so no one wants to embody that image.

Today’s urban consumer is highly expressive and often uses fashion to push the envelope for a reaction. Social issues and violent images have always found their way into pop culture whether it be the Che Guevara activist t-shirts, the shirts that pay homage to Scarface "Tony Montana" or the violent video games that are ever so popular with our younger generation. Furthermore, if a statement on a t-shirt could ever compel one to follow orders no one would have free will. The claims made against this shirt being sold also violate freedom of speech which has been an exceedingly debated issue in our culture. Antonio Ansaldi continues to produce fashion that expresses itself from the Stop Snitchin’ t-shirts to the controversial Raid Vest that has also been claimed to promote violence. The clothing company firmly believes that people should be free to wear what they like and "if you don’t like it, don’t wear it." These items are just a few of the many designs and collections from the Antonio Ansaldi brand that is offered to core customers. At the end of the day, Antonio Ansaldi will continue to carry styles that define their markets tastes and produce the critically acclaimed Stop Snitchin’ t-shirt until the next contentious design flies off store shelves.

The Stop Snitchin' T-shirt and Antonio Ansaldi Collection is available @ the retail store in Codman Square (501B Washington Street),
AntonioAnsaldi.com, and Amazon.com

i got the shirt too! STOP SNITCHIN NIGGAS

i wear that shit hard rep ur town Stop Tellin On People

The other day I saw a black nanny with a couple of white toddlers, and the nanny was wearing a fist-raised Malcolm X t-shirt that exclaimed, "By any means necessary." I wondered what kind of parent would hand their children over that! It doesn't take much imagination to see that as a direct threat to the children entrusted to her. The Upper West Side mother probably bought her the shirt out of a guilt complex......

why does a white woman need a black nanny to raise her kids?
why does a black nanny need a white woman to buy her clothes?

The first time I saw one of those shirts was at the arts beats and eats festival. I had no idea what it meant but thought it was cool considering my last name is snitchler and people call me snitch so a baught it. Some people gave me odd looks while I was wearing it but I didn't know why.

It's just a damn t-shirt. You people are the reason why black people don't want to give white people the time of day. You seek to drive anything with some value into the ground in efforts to degrade Afro-American culture. I come from Boston, where recently there was a 4-year old slain in the street because of a gang disagreement. The child was wearing a "Stop Snitchin'" shirt at the time. Around the city, there is a special version of the shirt with the young childs profile airbrushed on it. How do u know whether or not these shirts are meant to be ill-intended or just another way to represent what we have gone through and survived as a people? stick in the suburbs

these shirts started in west Baltimore and these shirts have been out for a while. Right after the underground baltimore DVD "stop snitchin" came out summer of 2004
it no surprise it came from here with b-more bein known as americas 3rd world city.

if you think a 4 year old baby getting slain is bad it seems like that shit happens every day in baltimore the news here is sickening it makes you not want to go out side plus you got DC that is only 30 min away and not to mention its well know murderuos SUBURBS prince georges county that has more murders than BOSTON so get your facts str8 unless your city has been on the murder capital list every year i dont want to hear it!!!

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1424319,00.html

Boston saw killings rise to 62 from 41 last year — a 50 per cent increase, but still well below the city’s peak of 152 during the gang wars of 1990.

Detroit, which began 2004 with a rash of killings that drove the murder rate up 50 per cent, ended the year with 384 murders, up from 366. Baltimore, which has had one police commissioner forced out and another dismissed, saw a slight increase in killings to 278, from 271 in 2003.

point proven

My brother was the young man who was killed on June 20,2005 in Denver Colorado for being the only one to stand up and testify out of 300 people who also witnessed the murder. He had graduated from coleege 25 days prior to him and his girlfriends murder. When my mother and I discovered that local retailers were profiting off these shirts we wrote letter to the stores and spoke with the managers. We found the shirts very offisive. It is time that all people rise up and recognize that the have a civic and social responsibity to speak out against anything that is wrong. We must impower our children by leading the example that our communites can be better if we all strive for excellence !! The world is a threatening place because we feel threatend. Peace and Blessigns

Maisha:

Very sorry to hear of your loss. Somehow when I first read the story I missed the fact that it was in Denver. I live up in Thornton. Please let me know if I can help. You can reach me at geoff at microvection dot com.

The piece of dog shit that came up with the stop
snitchin' t-shirts should get down on his knees and
beg forgiveness for ever being born. We don't need
people like him in this country.