Jamiel's Dad Talks With Mayor Sam

Jamiel Shaw, Sr. was born and raised in Los Angeles. He attended Los Angeles High School, where he had hoped his son Jamiel, II would graduate from, before he was tragically killed when he was shot by an alleged illegal alien gang member. Jamiel, Sr. broke his leg in a motor cycle accident in his senior year and wasn't able to graduate. He later went on to receive a GED. Jamiel, Sr. currently works at a fitness company, repairing fitness equipment. Jamiel took the time to chat with me about his son and his efforts to prevent others from being the victims of illegal alien gang members.

Tell me about Jamiel, II.

My son was a very nice and respectful young man. He was God fearing. He would actually read his bible. He loved sports and was a football and track star. Very intelligent. Very social. We would go places and he would meet other kids and within minutes they would be laughing and talking. I would later ask him, 'who's that kid you were talking to?' and he would say, 'oh we just met'. He loved his family. He was a hugger. He would hug his mom, his brother Thomas, his grandmother, his aunts, his uncles, his cousins and even me. He was my best friend! I told him that he was my redeemer! He was doing all of the things I wanted to do in school. He was a happy kid. He was so much fun. I really love him and miss him soooo much!

How do you think Jamiel's Law will make a difference?

I think Jamiel's Law will get rid of illegal alien gang members!! According to a 2005 report from Senator Diane Feinstein, there are 50,000 Eighteen Street gang members and 80% entered the Country illegally! Jamiel's Law will stop our city from being a 'Sanctuary City' to illegal alien gang members. This law will give the Los Angeles Police Department the power to fulfill their motto, 'TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE'. Because right now, they are not living up to it! Jamiel's Law will cause the Police Department to follow the Law! The United States of America currently have Immigration laws that are NOT being followed. The Mayor is not enforcing these laws. The Chief of Police is not enforcing these laws. Therefore the Police are guilty of breaking the law! This is why my son is DEAD! It was so preventable!!!

In recent years, city leaders have routinely produced reports and statistics showing a steady decline in crime citywide. Putting aside the statistics for a moment, have you perceived this to be the case in your community?

Our community is currently under seige by gang members. Especially the illegal alien gang members. There are reports that say crime is down, but I don't believe these reports are true. Everytime I turn around there is another person killed, or another person shot or another person robbed. The list goes on and on.

Besides Jamiel's Law, what other efforts do we have to take to end the scourge of gang violence?

In addition to passing Jamiel's Law, I believe survelliance work will help fight gang violence. Having people in office that are serious about protecting the Legal Citizens will do wonders in fighting gang violence in our communities! Citizens determined to take back our streets will do wonders to fight gang violence. We must stop being scared to speak out against crime. We know the areas where the gangs are setting up shop. If the community put pressure on the government, the government will do something. If the community put pressure on the media to expose these trouble areas, the government will respond. If there is a loud enough out cry in the community along with media exposure, the Mayor, the Governor and the President will do something. God willing, we can stand together and demand change!

Have you received any criticism for pursuing Jamiel's Law?

Yes. I have received criticism for pursuing Jamiel's Law! People say it's a racist law. But I say, 'the police should check everybody they pull over', especially the ones they arrest. They have a database for gang members. Why do they have this database if they are not going to use it? I have been told that it's not enough people behind this law to make a difference. I have been told that people are using my son's death to further their own agenda's. I was asked to change Jamiel's law and remove the illegal alien part. In so many words I was asked to not attend the City Council's meeting that my family and I planned. I was told that this Law could hurt the case against the accused murderer. I have been offered a better paying job. I could go on and on.

Some of the readers of our blog initially would not believe you were supporting Jamiel's Law or working with Walter Moore because of his skin color. What do you think of that?

Walter Moore and I believe that Jamiel's Law is needed to fix the illegal alien gang problem! It's needed to give the Police Department the power to protect and serve all the citizens in Los Angeles. It's needed to hold the Mayor of Los Angeles accountable to the citizens.

What do you see as solutions to the lack of male role models in our communities?

Dads involved in all aspects of their kids life is one solution to becoming a role model. Kids look up to men that listen to them, that talk to them, that attend their activities. If men would make time to be a hands on father, or a big brother or a friend in a child's life, this world would be a better place. My son liked me! He would tell me things that I would never tell my father. He would ask me things that he would never ask his mother. He knew that he could trust me to tell him the truth. He would ask me questions and I would say, 'do you want the long version or the short version : ) '. Sometimes he would even ask for the long version. I was involved in his whole life. That's why this is so hard!! We talked all the time and I miss him! I miss him down to my sole. Unless you have experienced the loss of a child, it's hard to explain! I hurt deep within my soul. We had a Eighteen year plan. I talked about the plan and I would ask him to tell me about the plan. Men must make a plan for their children and get them to buy into the plan. Communication is very important. It's the key to keeping the door open.

How do we bridge the racial divide between different segments of our community?
Work together on the same issues to unite the community. We must work together with those that want to change the way things are. It's not about skin color, it's about our children's future. It's about helping the elderly! My son would visit the elderly. It's about reasoning together. If we hide behind skin color things are only going to get worse. Of course I believe that Jamiel's Law is an excellent place to start!!

What final thoughts would you like to share?

I hope my words will encourage your readers to get involved with Jamiel's Law. Unfortunately this law will not bring back my son, but hopefully it will keep a whole lot of people from experience pain like you would never believe! We really need help in passing Jamiel's Law! May God bless you all!