By Vivienne C.
This article is based on an interview with a survivor; a female-led business owner who was threatened and attacked by the Rejects.
It is no secret that the Hathian suffers from a massive gang problem, which, in the context of the history of the city, has failed to be systematically addressed through the underlying root cause of social and economic issues. The chief among these is the endemic spread of violence and drugs. Through this story, I would like to highlight the multi-faceted influence of gangs and their interactions with local businesses and citizens. This also impacts the community.
Noah Rose Birdie is the owner of Holy Moly Donuts, which for those who are not familiar is situated in the square where the field hospital was previously located. There are multiple small businesses there, all of which were impacted to a certain extent by the hurricane and when I went to take a look at the environment in which this story started; it appeared empty and desolate.
Protecting Businesses By Destroying Them
Noah begins the horrid tale of her encounter with members of the Reject gang who introduced themselves as follows: Deli, Echo, Donta, and Jack. I name them for your readers, so they are not an invisible menacing force, but as they are people at the outskirts of our community, and perhaps you might encounter them in your daily interactions. But I digress, the Rejects told Noah that her shop was on their turf and must pay her “tax”. (Not Heard of Echo or Donta before, but Jack and Deli are known Reject names – Ed)
This financial predatory behaviour is extremely dangerous because it not only damages businesses that have to give their profits to gangs but also it encourages black market practices and cripples the economy of the town. More importantly it enables further abuse and continues the cycle of violence especially if payments are refused or the demands escalate over time leading to an eventual takeover or violence.
Noah was attacked that day. At that time she was a pregnant woman and mother of a young girl who was making do with an honest business. She was threatened, both physically and psychologically. In her own words, she recounted:
The Rejects didn’t want businesses on their turf besmirched. Deli proceeded to tell me about the cost, which was an amount greater than the shop’s profits each week. This was communicated with the crowbar pressed to my cheek as the threat was issued and a payment was demanded to be delivered every Saturday
Noah Rose Birdie
Is Compliance The Answer?
Noah tried to resist the blackmail. In her attempt, she communicated the improbability of her shop as being able to survive such financial demands. Reject member Deli doubled the threat, stating that they could harm or kill Noah’s young daughter; an innocent child. ‘Fortunately’, a different member of the gang negotiated more lenient terms in which the money demanded was reduced; however, the hurricane hit Hathian, and Noah had to close her shop.
While Hathian Citizens struggled to survive the brewing storm, Noah suffered injury as an Alligator attacked her. When she was released from the hospital, the Rejects resumed communicating their unreasonable extortionate demands. Noah asked for some time, to make good the damages and revive the shop. The answer was brutal violence. The incident occurred near the Grind. Noah was in a wheelchair when Deli and Oxy inflicted upon her a heartless attack that cause her to miscarry.
They kicked her repeatedly and placed a knife on her throat that cut her. Narrowly missing a severe injury that could have killed her.
Noah’s ordeal continued when she reported the incident to the police and was then kidnapped sometime later by the gang. They kept her captive, broke her leg and her jaw. In their beating and torture, they carved “Rat” on her chest. She now lives in fear of further targeting and prosecution.
What Can We Do?
I end this harrowing tale with my reflections and questions. Evidently, blackmail does not work. Compliance enables predatory behaviour, but many feel helpless and powerless. This is especially true when the lives of loved ones are threatened. Where does that leave the citizens of Hathian who want to go about living their lives? And how can HPD protect those who come forth to report such incidents?
We must begin with a collective resistance to these practices. For one business to cave, the gang is empowered to prey on the others. The HPD, which already has information on the businesses and territories of gangs, must organise special patrol units of officers who would help by speaking to business owners and keeping any eye on the issue.
Finally, we must address the root causes of gang violence as it is our community responsibility. These reflections are certainly not the answer, but I hope they provoke you to consider other solutions.
