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Chicago's Black Community Has Mixed Emotions About Dallas Ambush

(CBS) -- Chicago's African-American community is reeling with grief and, some fear, the Dallas ambush could drive an even bigger wedge between cultures.

As CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker explains, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell believes racial tensions are near a tipping point.

"This, to me, has the potential of waging an all-out war," she says.

That's the essence of the article she is writing for this Sunday.

"The focus of police brutality has shifted from the victims to now victims being the police officers," she says. "If there is a war between the police department and the community, guess who's going to lose? It's going to be the community."

In Chicago's predominantly black community of Bronzeville, retired city worker Jerry Turner offers a mixed reaction. He says he thinks a black suspect's attack on the Dallas officers was wrong, but he expressed frustration about police-involved shootings of African Americans, with seemingly no repercussions.

Recent high school grad Darius Johnson flatly disagrees.

"Just to get on a building and take some police officers out, that's not cool at all," he says.

Renowned international poet Nikki Giovanni, who gained notoriety as a rebel back in the 70's, had this to say: "I sincerely feel like maybe the police know how the community feels. When one of theirs dies, they're sad. Maybe they understand how we feel."

Mitchell's column will reflect the views of many, but here's her message: "You don't do evil for evil."

 

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