Gangs: War On The Streets: Stop The Crime!!
Well let me start by sharing personal experience:
I live in the valley of California, peaceful you would think?
Not really, the majority of the people that I go to school, forced to associate, or family with
are either Norteños or Sureños
Norteños: Spanish for Northerners (Nuestra Familia) are a large organization of largely Mexican-American street gangs in the United States. They go for the color Red.
(psst..for more info on norteños go here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norte%C3%B1os)
Sureños: (Spanish for Southerners) are a group of Mexican American street gangs with origins in the oldest barrios of Southern California. They go for the color Blue.
(psst.. for more info on sureños go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sureno)
Okay, I live in a neighborhood where you would consistently hear gunshots. It's always hard to go outside and just hang out without being in danger of being in the middle of gang activity. Fortunetly, I am not gang affiliated, but unfortunetly, the majority of my family is... =( Due to the fact that I am even related to gang members, it has put me in danger several times. I have been jumped twice, and a victim during a drive-by (luckily I was never shot or seriously hurt)
My poor mom is so scared that she has said that I can't wear Red or Blue ( so much for red converse like Tre Cool *sigh* ) Which to my understanding is that it is for my own protection. But Why Me? Why, I'm just your average punky teen, but because of the reputation of my family, I'm even "tainted" and labled, people always talk about me like if I'm not even there saying things like "Oh I know her.. She lives on the East Side and her brother is so and so, and her cousin was the one who got shot" Why?! Why can't they say things like, " Oh I know her, she loves Tre Cool" Why is it so easy for people to assume that I'm gang affiliated?! I'm not the only one who suffers like this, some other people my age feel the same way. And It is unfair that we ALL have to be in the middle of this war that is happening in our very own towns, streets, and homes.
As this gang violence escalates, the hurt that it causes does to. Just recently, one of my good friends was gunned down during a drive-by. She was my age... 16.
It's scary how this is slowly taking over my "was once" beautiful little hometown and other parts of California. I believe that gangs are the most stupidest things in the world. I wish I could put a stop to it...
But I know I cannot do it alone...
So please, help stop gang violence by setting up organizations
at your school...or even joining your local YMCA to help younger kids stay off
the streets.
I live in the valley of California, peaceful you would think?
Not really, the majority of the people that I go to school, forced to associate, or family with
are either Norteños or Sureños
Norteños: Spanish for Northerners (Nuestra Familia) are a large organization of largely Mexican-American street gangs in the United States. They go for the color Red.
(psst..for more info on norteños go here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norte%C3%B1os)
Sureños: (Spanish for Southerners) are a group of Mexican American street gangs with origins in the oldest barrios of Southern California. They go for the color Blue.
(psst.. for more info on sureños go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sureno)
Okay, I live in a neighborhood where you would consistently hear gunshots. It's always hard to go outside and just hang out without being in danger of being in the middle of gang activity. Fortunetly, I am not gang affiliated, but unfortunetly, the majority of my family is... =( Due to the fact that I am even related to gang members, it has put me in danger several times. I have been jumped twice, and a victim during a drive-by (luckily I was never shot or seriously hurt)
My poor mom is so scared that she has said that I can't wear Red or Blue ( so much for red converse like Tre Cool *sigh* ) Which to my understanding is that it is for my own protection. But Why Me? Why, I'm just your average punky teen, but because of the reputation of my family, I'm even "tainted" and labled, people always talk about me like if I'm not even there saying things like "Oh I know her.. She lives on the East Side and her brother is so and so, and her cousin was the one who got shot" Why?! Why can't they say things like, " Oh I know her, she loves Tre Cool" Why is it so easy for people to assume that I'm gang affiliated?! I'm not the only one who suffers like this, some other people my age feel the same way. And It is unfair that we ALL have to be in the middle of this war that is happening in our very own towns, streets, and homes.
As this gang violence escalates, the hurt that it causes does to. Just recently, one of my good friends was gunned down during a drive-by. She was my age... 16.
It's scary how this is slowly taking over my "was once" beautiful little hometown and other parts of California. I believe that gangs are the most stupidest things in the world. I wish I could put a stop to it...
But I know I cannot do it alone...
So please, help stop gang violence by setting up organizations
at your school...or even joining your local YMCA to help younger kids stay off
the streets.
i would move. i know it's easier said than done, but i wouldn't risk to get shot ..
GREENDAYxMCR, October 14th, 2009 at 01:30:24pm
Well, thats the inspiration for Murder City, I guess.
But anyway, I can't imagine what it must be like to be in your position. Maybe you should do an assembly all about gang and crimes and explaiing that there is more to you than just being affiliated with gangs.
Next time I have to stand up and do a presentation, I'll definately consider doing it on gangs, because it has a huge prevalence in England, too You guys have gun crime, ours is knife crime.
Trusty Chords., October 14th, 2009 at 06:32:38am