Stop The Gang Cycle

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The city spends money un unnecessary things like “speed bumps"...and rather close the skate-park because of budget.

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[Pictured: Theatrical posters for Mi Vida Loca, Boyz N the Hood, Menace II Society and Blood In Blood Out]

Some examples of gangs in film that  take place in Los Angeles. 

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Capitalismmagazine.com Gangs--Society's fault?

“Society pushes you back into the same pile of s— you came out of.” Chino, a “hardened gang member,” offered this excuse as his rationale for joining a gang.

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Story from Streetgangs.com

Young father made break from gangs but fight takes his life

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Example of "Safety Zone" radius.

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Anderson Cooper interviews a family who's Son was killed in a drive by shooting and even though his shooting is caught on tape police are still unable to identify killer.

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The Opponents View.

  The opponents of these gang injunctions believe that the injunctions strip members of their constitutional rights.

Increases stereotyping by the police department.

Families are being broken up, due to this law enforcement harassment.

For example a gang injunction was set to be imposed on the Echo Park area of Los Angeles, but activist and community members alike where determined to fight it. Because they believe it was a form of gentrifying a community as again the police targets solely minorities.

It marginalizes the male in the communities these safety zones are said to protect, by incarcerating them repeatedly. Instead of giving them the opportunity to try an reform.

The California Department of Corrections is already overflowing and has the highest jail/prison population with a 70% recidivism rate. Unfortunately, releasing other more violent criminals who have committed non gang related offenses. 

Ironically making our communities more dangerous, especially the poverty stricken communities they were intended to help.

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Why the Proponets of gang injuctions believe they work..

It helps Police Department combat the overwhelming gang problem.

There are currently active gang injunctions, involving 72 gangs, according to LAPD's website.

Helps clean up the communities' street of defacement of private homes and city walls due to graffiti.

Can be seen as a preventive tool, in the sense that the youth and the areas next generation are no longer seeing these gangsters; hanging around selling and or using drugs, or the glamorized lifestyle the members promote to recruit the younger population.     

& Restricts the gang members or "Street terrorist" from gathering which in turn prevents them from committing and/or trying to commit criminal activity.

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GANG INJUNCTIONS.

Intro: A Gang Injunction or "safety zone" was established on the basis of a civil law suit, filed against criminal street gangs, as known by California Penal Code Sec. 186.22. Civil gang injunctions are based on the doctrine of public nuisance, that prohibits behaviors that interfere with people's right to peacefully enjoy their private property or freely walk the streets. California Civil Code Sec. 3480 states a public nuisance as "one which effects an entire community or neighborhood... although the extend of the annoyance or damage inflicted upon individuals maybe unequal". For example some of the restrictions of the injunction are that it prohibits a gang and its members from engaging in certain activities; such as socializing and gathering with other members, and a curfew which does not allow them to stay out and away from home after 10pm. If in case one of these restrictions are broken they face up to 130 days of incarceration, fines up to $1,000 and possible revocation of probation/parole if already in legal issues. Overall it was established as a deterrent, as it is Law Enforcements job to protect the community it is serving. And this is their most Proactive way of doing so.

(Gang member being served with a copy of their gang injunction)

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Homeboy Industries' business model: A way out of gang life

CNN story about Homeboy Industries, and how much of a  effect this community outreach program has had on the people of the greater Los Angeles Area

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There’s a misperception about East L.A., which is that it is dangerous to the random visitor. That is an idea born out of decades of bad TV shows and exploitative movies. Hector wasn’t with us so much to protect us, as to act as our guarantee to the people in the neighborhood that we weren’t there to make a lengthy episode of CSI, full of "vatos," "eses" and "orales"…

Chris Weitz (director of A Better Life)

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Deporting America's Gang Culture

Fen Montaigne  writes about the effects of American deportation of gang members has on the people, Latin American and Caribbean countries and those being deported.

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Homies faced criticism from many groups including the Los Angeles Police Department that the characters were perpetuating negative stereotypes and romanticizing Chicano gang life.

A fact that is often ignored about Homies is that very few characters actually are gang affiliated in the Homieverse or most characters are former member that are working to fix Quien Sabes like Mr. Loco who works as a youth gang counselor and as a mediator to put an end to rival gang wars before they escalate to violence. Gonzalez’s characters represent the various types of real people one might find within a Chicano neighborhood. 

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A Better Life follows the story of single father and undocumented immigrant Carlos Galindo trying to provide for his son Luis as a gardener. Carlos finally gets independence by means of acquiring his own truck and tools to work with. Luis is skirting the edge of joining up with a local gang.The two go on a journey together when Carlos' truck is stolen and the two begin to bond.

Fact: Father G and Hector Verdugo of Homeboy Industries helped director Chris Weitz with locations and creating an authentic script.

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An O/G Mad Swan Blood member, Hakim, 38, reflects on his gang life style 7 past incarceration for murder.

He talk about the lack of government assistance and the roles that fathers should play in young black males lives.

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American Civil Liberties union fact sheet on Gang Injunctions

Whats in a Gang Injunction?

What at stake?

Are they effective?

What can you do?