East St. Louis Mayor All But Overrules Bill of Rights to Fight Crime

Citywide dress code would forbid men from wearing red or blue

Of all the new restrictions Mayor Alvin Parks enacted this week to battle youth violence, the most controversial is limiting what colors male residents can wear.

Parks on Wednesday said anyone under 18 would be arrested if they were not in class during school hours, or if they were not home by 10 p.m. And even before 10 p.m., he said, children and youths only will be allowed to attend school, after-school programs, church or work unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

But it was his pronouncement that males of any age would be banned from wearing royal blue or bright red clothing — colors generally associated with gangs — that attracted the most reaction.