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Do You Know a Gang Member When You See One?

By TChris, Section Social Justice
Posted on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 10:12:31 PM EST
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Here's the moral of the story:

The problem is that when the police focus on gangs rather than the crimes they commit, they are apt to sweep up innocent bystanders, who may dress like a gang member, talk like a gang member and even live in a gang neighborhood, but are not gang members.

Solomon Moore's first-hand experience with abusive police behavior toward suspected gang members -- "Reporting While Black" -- is worth your time.

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    Do You Know a Gang Member When You See One? | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Gang injunctions (none / 0) (#1)
    by janinsanfran on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 09:59:00 AM EST
    Our Japanese American Public Defender wrote a great oped about why he is contesting new anti-gang injunctions our city attorney is trying to bring in.

    In particular, he found that previous injunctions had been used against people who had long left the gang scene. Makes you wonder sometimes whether "law enforcement" could get along if it didn't have a counterpart "career criminal class" of sufficient magnitude.

    Depends on the gang..... (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 12:54:29 PM EST
    some gangs wear uniforms with badges on their chests.  Some wear 3 piece suits.  

    Juggalo gangs (none / 0) (#9)
    by NMvoiceofreason on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 12:22:36 AM EST
    All fun and games... until you have your thirteen year old daughter targeted by a gang using the cover of the "Insane Clown Posse" (no, I am NOT making this up, just google juggalo arrests). She is lured out, maybe to smoke a little pot, maybe get a ICP tattoo on her arm, by a charismatic 16 year old. Next she gets a gang name, and then her initiation - a gang rape by all the under 18 year old members. Then she gets hooked, on crack, meth, or heroin, and sold out as a prostitute. Can't prosecute the gang rape because they are near her age. No proof of the drug use by anyone but her. And if you lock her up, the moment she turns 14 she gets her own "independent" lawyer (paid for by the gang) to free her from treatment so they can use her and abuse her at will.

    And you wonder why parents hate this?

    Parent

    The only reason we can track (none / 0) (#3)
    by jondee on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:06:03 PM EST
    the PNAC is that they all put their signatures on the same document. If only other gangs did that.

    I think the term "gang" references this (none / 0) (#4)
    by Patrick on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:07:48 PM EST
    Criminal Street Gang - A formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group that has as one of it's primary activities the commission of criminal or delinquent acts, and that consist of three or more persons who:

    Have a common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols and
    Have two or more members who, individually or collectively, engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity.

    although I'm sure Kdog enjoyed the easy shot at the the cops.

    Sorry Pat.... (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:26:49 PM EST
    I'm cranky...did you see the Mets yesterday?  Ugh.

    When you're on the wrong side of the law, there is only one gang that really worries ya.  

    Parent

    Reading the linked story, it seems odd (none / 0) (#6)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:33:56 PM EST
    that the cops directed their efforts only at the author of the story (the NY Times writer) and not at anyone else in the group (which included actual drug dealers) that the author was hanging out with on that street corner in the wee hours of that morning...

    I guess that should read: (none / 0) (#7)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:38:01 PM EST
    and not at anyone else in the group (which included actual gang members and drug dealers)


    Parent
    The part I though was interesting (none / 0) (#8)
    by JSN on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 02:40:24 PM EST
    is the supposed gang members would not talk to the reporter after the cops did not put him in jail. It appears they were suspicious in the first place and they fact he was not jailed was confirmation.

    Some middle aged Black guy who claims he is a NYT reporter shows up and starts asking questions about gangs. Imagine that!

    "juggalo Gangs" (none / 0) (#11)
    by tinkthalovelylette on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 02:55:01 PM EST
    Personally I myself listen to thhe insane clown posse.  I don not understand your delima with the lyrics.  Not everyone who is a juggalo smokes and does illegal stuff.  If you really took the time to think about it you would see that all music has lyrics that are badd like that.  It is not just what they say and oh automatically you assume that people will smoke and drink etc. just because the type of music we listen to has lyrics that support that. Country music for example supports most o fthe time divore,sometimes drinking, tractors, and southern people, yet you never see people in their cars lsitening to southern music drinking now do you?  Just something to think about.

    Stephanie
    Senior in high school

    Juggalos are a gang (none / 0) (#12)
    by Hypno on Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 11:47:40 AM EST
    Well all i got to say is you people tryin to call us gang members and stuff like that. Im 17 about to turn 18 on the 29th of March. Ive been a Wicked Clown/Juggalo sence 1994 and you people. o i think im better than everyone else cuase im rich and i kiss but to get were i am and because, my daddy gave me everthing i wanted. Thats bull juggalos and juggalettes/females are people that arent making it in life and some are. wow just becuase one of us is a Juggalos doesnt make us a gang members so if you dont know what u r talking about then shut ur mouth iight

    Do You Know a Gang Member When You See One? | 11 comments (11 topical)