Herman Wrice
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Herman Wrice (1939-2000) was a renowned community organizer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and inventor of the Wrice Process method of direct action, whereby neighbors directly confront street-level drug dealers in their communities.
In 1988 Herman organized Mantua Against Drugs (MAD). In a white hard-hat, provided by Mayor Wilson Goode, Herman began the demolition and closing of crack houses and led marches against drug dealers who operated freely on street comers in Mantua. He often faced death threats; he was not only fearless, he once taunted the drug dealers to come get him while he worked cleaning a street comer park. They didn't. He put up "Wanted" posters with pictures of the Dealer of the Week. Herman's methods were adopted by other communities in Philadelphia. His message: "Stand up to them and they’ll leave."
Philadelphia police took notice and began helping Herman. Soon communities saw that the police were there to help get rid of dealers. Herman observed, "Communities (had) thought the police were the enemy — and the dealers loved it."
(Anti-)Drug marches consist of groups of neighbors and community activists escorted by police as they chant call and response phrases, often with humorous inflections or emphasis. Some examples of these civil rights type chants are "Save the Babies, Save the Children", "Up with Hope, Down With Dope", "Hidey Hidey Hidey Ho, Drug Dealers got to go!"
A core set of beliefs for drug fighter emphasize the ability of activists to always maintain control of the situation, and are codified in "The Ten Commandments of Drug Fighting":
- Even if it is true
- Often in marches and other instances of close contact, drug dealers and sympathizers will present a rationale that attempts to legitimize street level dealing. "There are no jobs in the area," "Alcohol is legal," or "Mandatory minimums look at crack possession differently than powder cocaine" are three such examples. This first commandment redirects the marcher away from responding, and towards the task at hand. No matter how you feel on ancillary issues, the Wrice Process contends, the number one priority is to remove dealers from neighborhoods. Once our streets are safe, then we can begin to address other issues.
- Opposite thinking
- When out on a march, a group can effect an asymmetrical reaction from dealers by behaving in a carefully unpredictable fashion. Break out the popcorn, order pizzas, draw a hopscotch game on the street with chalk. Each of these can add a surreal element to the occasion, and often cause the dealer(who is more often than not a user) to capitulate.
- We have met the hero and he is us, the hero in you
- Everyone, event the most intimidated geriatric neighbor, has the potential to provide the critical mass that shifts control of a street corner away from illegal activity and towards homeowners and residents.
- Hate drugs more than anything
- Andy Garr worked closely with Herman for several years, and defined this as a commandment to "Stay focused on getting rid of drugs and prostitution, so when in doubt go out (hit the streets)!.... infighting is more dangerous, and harder to get rid of, than drug dealers, prostitutes & criminals."
- Part of the solution or part of the problem
- Closing ones door and drawing the blinds as a response to illegal activity only emboldens criminals, and diminishes public safety.
- What time is it? Drug fighting time
- Regardless of the date and time, AntiDrug activists can work to free their neighborhoods of the effects of street level drug dealers and their customers
- Don't go for the fake
- Rain, sleet or snow; drug dealers gotta go
- Marchers take pride on their resolve to march in inclement weather, mimicking the USPS slogan.
- Drug dealer mythology
- Marchers believe that drug dealers are much like actors on a stage, without true power. A dealer's ability to control the situation, this commandment posits, is directly correlated to their ability to project a persona. A march is truly judged successful when the dealer and sympathizers are forced to step down from the 'stage', and leave the scene.
- Roberts rules of disorder
