So sad but true . . . . . Charlottesville has lots of groups of people that are afraid to go to the police with information (black males, recently emigrated Mexicans, even Asian visiting professors at UVA). I am aware and know many locals these groups that feel this way. Not that they have any reason to, but there is general skeptism and fear in their communities about authorities. Last week someone in one of these groups was afraid to go to the SPCA to retrieve their dog that escaped their yard. They were afraid it was a "set-up" and that they would be detained/questioned. I could not convince them otherwise and they let their dog to. Sad, that some populations here feel this way, but it is true.
I was talking to an older, black maintenance man in my office building yesterday. He even said that if he knew anything, he would not come forward . . . . . he'd be afraid. When I asked if he would feel more comfortable if speaking to a black officer on the Greene County Police Force, he answered, "are you kidding? there are no black officers on the force". It's sad that in this day & age, that some populations of people still live in feer of authorities.
