Pubdate: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 Source: News-Times, The (CT) Copyright: 2002 The News-Times Contact: http://www.newstimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/637 Author: Associated Press Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n397/a07.html Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n374/a04.html COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS CAMPING OUT AGAINST CRIME HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Community activists are taking aim at crime in Hartford and have already started setting up the front lines of what they call a civil war. The activists announced Friday they will begin camping out indefinitely in notorious drug neighborhoods in hopes of chasing away the dealers. There have been seven homicides in the city since January. The activists were joined by members of the Hartford branch of the NAACP, politicians and church leaders at a City Hall rally to kick off the anti-crime campaign. Mayor Eddie Perez said the city would provide whatever help it could. City police applauded the plans, which officials say foster effective cooperation between residents and police. "They're not breaking any laws by doing it," said Hartford Police spokesman Lt. Neil Dryfe. "We certainly are supportive of any action that the community takes. It's very refreshing. It makes it a lot easier to come here and go to work every day." The Rev. Cornell Lewis is among those planning to camp out. He and others have already helped rid a neighborhood of drug dealers with nine straight weeks of vigils, demonstrations and videotaping of drug suspects. He stressed the camp-out will be a nonviolent initiative, but noted participants are prepared for trouble. "Anytime you go up against the oppressor, there's always a possibility of violence," Lewis said. "And we're prepared for that." - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel