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ARE STRAIGHT-EDGE CREWS GOING TOO FAR?
http://www.inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=2813

When the Pensacola Police issued an all-points bulletin last month requesting information about the recent spate of graffiti—or territorial tags with the acronym "TDC"—marking the various walls and fences throughout the area, it was almost comical.

If investigators conducted a simple Internet search by typing in "Pensacola" and "TDC" into Google, eight members of the self-proclaimed TDC—or Till Death Crew—would pop up. One click and the police would have access to the group's MySpace hub where the crew's so-called underbelly interacted and posted evidence of their exploits, including how one member tagged "TDC" on a friend's fence with urine.

Serious stuff? Perhaps.

However, as the investigation unfolded and the police questioned the eight members of the TDC who claimed responsibility for at least some of the graffiti marring Pensacola's usually pristine façade, they failed to get at the root of what TDC is truly about.  

In the 142-page police report obtained by the Independent News, not once did they mention that the kids ranging from 15- to 21-years old were part of a larger network that has grown out of the hardcore-punk music scene.

TDC is a straight-edge crew.

You know, the don't drink, don't smoke subculture of usually younger middle-to-upper class white males connected with the philosophy of abstaining from what they call poisons—everything from the consumption of illegal chemicals such as ecstasy, speed and pot to legal substances such as alcohol, cigarettes and sometimes caffeine. If a person practices straight edge they also refrain from casual sex.

Sounds like a parent's dream? Not so fast.

ORIGINS OF EDGE

Ian MacKaye, founder of Dischord Records in Washington D.C. and former frontman of the punk band Minor Threat, penned the song "Straight Edge" in 1980 which has inadvertently become an anthem for an entire movement.

"I've been fairly clear from the beginning," MacKaye says in a previous interview. "I'm the person who coined the phrase 'straight edge,' but I'm not the founder of the movement."

When asked if he had issues with the current evolution of the lifestyle, MacKaye shoots back.

"You have the five percent who are fundamentalists," he says. "And, within that five percent, you have even a smaller group that has a fascination with violence."

MacKaye continues: "Their issue is not sobriety. It's with violence. People with violence in the belly are in search of a trigger and way to get the violence out."

The outspoken musician is referring to the handful of militants who claim edge—called "hate edge"—where the straight-edge crews attack people for smoking or sometimes liken themselves as soldiers of sobriety.

"Unfortunately, for those violent fundamentalists out there, they've used the whole straight-edge concept to beat the crap out of somebody," MacKaye adds.

While local straight-edge crews like TDC vilify the militant subculture, they do mimic aspects of the fringe, which include tagging soldier-of-sobriety slogans like "KYS" or kill your system.

The mere act of forming a crew—or a group of like-minded friends who may or may not all be straight edge—is a conundrum because they advocate a strong sense of community yet willfully isolate its members from the mainstream.

In essence, they're politically correct gangs.
   
CREW CULTURE

"Crews aren't a straight-edge problem anymore, it's a hardcore problem," insists Grant Mosley, bassist for the local melodic-hardcore band Glory of This.

Mosley, who has claimed edge since 2000 and is a practicing vegan, says he's seen his share of crews while touring throughout the country.

"You'll hear about straight-edge crews fighting at shows and when they're caught," he says, "they'll have pot on them which means they're really not straight edge."

The 20-year-old musician, who lost his father due to lung cancer and ultimately pledged to lead a poison-free lifestyle after his death, says that most crews are more bark than bite.

"On our last tour, the crews came out and some areas were worse than others," Mosley explains. "For the most part, you could keep the kids tame. However, fights would break out and it gets out of control at times."

The bassist says the threat is overstated.

"People may be blowing the problem up a little bit," he says. "It's definitely an issue and it's bad, but it's not as bad as people are making it out to be."

As far as the markings, X's were originally a form of identification for kids who weren't old enough to drink at all-ages hardcore shows that served alcohol. Straight-edge followers would mark their hands with an X to show solidarity.

The Milton-based musician says that few edge supporters sport the old-school X on the back of their hands. However, they do get tattoos.

"All of the straight-edge kids I know have tattoos," Mosley says, adding that he believes that straight edge is gaining popularity within our area. "When you claim edge, you do it with the mentality that it's something you'll do for the rest of your life. The idea of putting a straight-edge tattoo on you goes hand in hand with that philosophy."

Mosley, like a majority of the local kids who claim the straight-edge lifestyle, promotes open-minded discussions, the ethical treatment of animals as well as taking an active role in the music scene.

Of course, every bunch has its bad apples.

TILL DEATH CREW?

Local police say that TDC caused thousands of dollars in damages after they spray-painted graffiti on area businesses, homes and fences from January to March.

"This is a persistent problem and we are requesting assistance from the public in identifying the people responsible for this crime," says Chief John W. Mathis in the Pensacola Police's March 29 press release.

The offenders were caught, but that doesn't completely appease Pensacola Museum of Art's executive director Maria Butler.

"Downtown is starting to look good again and we're starting to comeback after the storm," explains Butler, who was hit twice in the past year with graffiti. "We're on the cusp of complete revitalization and something like this happens."

As the director of a non-profit museum, Butler says something as minor as tagging can put a serious strain on resources and money.

"Because we don't have the money to hire somebody to take care of it," she states, "my staff spent the entire day cleaning the museum and getting paint to cover it up."

Christopher Steeley, the 17-year-old ringleader of the straight-edge Till Death Crew, takes responsibility for a majority of the graffiti—however he claims that his group had nothing to do with the tags outside of the PMA and Quayside.

"A couple of the things we were charged for we had nothing to do with, but proving that in court is hard," Steeley says. "I've personally had someone write what I would write on the back of an art gallery, which is something I would never do because I'm an artist."

Steeley continues: "I already know that I'm going to get a lot of shit out of this—and possibly my whole life ruined—and I know that if I were in some other state they wouldn't be so harsh."

Butler, trying to turn a negative into a positive, offers the kids from the Till Death Crew a non-criminal alternative.

"If they're looking for an artistic opportunity, get them in here for classes," Butler quips. "If they want to create, we'll give them some space and some canvas and let them go to town."