The English Perspective on the early 90s Gang Wars- BBC-TV 1994
This is an interesting perspective on the gang problem in the early 90s in Little Rock. While things are much better now, and have been for a long time, we are in a dangerous climate for a repeat of these terrible times. Not only in Arkansas but nationwide. Youth violence numbers are inching upward again due to cutbacks in intervention and prevention programming. Communities must learn from history and begin to plan for these drastic reductions.
While there are problems, many programs and people continue to reach out to youngsters in hopes of keeping them to be a productive and happy citizen. Remember, To Beat Gangs We Must Compete With Gangs. Steve
posted by Steve Nawojczyk at
8:07 AM
1 Comments:
Further thoughts on gang evolution:
Gang violence and general gang related activity does seem to rise and fall over and over nationwide. Just as Little Rock had some serious violence issues with gangs back in the early / mid 90's the same was true in West Tennessee.
The current trend, for lack of a better word, appears to be coming back. This time the great influx of Hispanic gangs appears to be pushing us towards another inevitable series of gang wars over territory and overall control.
With the good comes the bad it seems. While many people coming from below the border are doing so with the intention of finding better jobs, along with their cultural good points is coming their gang culture. (Which ironically enough has some of its origins in LA).
Just a few years back it would be unheard of for groups associated with Sur 13 to be seen in some of our small towns in Tennessee. Not so anymore. Just the other day in a local Wal Mart I saw a young adult male with a Sur 13 tattoo on his neck. (This in a town of about 25K people).
The thing is as these groups are moving in it looks like some unavoidable conflict is destined to take place between gangs with an already established presence and the predominantly Hispanic gangs.
I have read that this conflict has been ongoing and intensifying in California over the past few years. And as we have seen in the past the gang culture out there tends to migrate outwards.
My personal feeling is that we are on the brink of an even bloodier gang war than we have seen with old rivals such as the Bloods and Crips or Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples... especially with gangs like MS13 and their associated umbrella org. Sur 13.
I hope that law enforcement will be able to handle the task and will meet this thing head on with immediate action.
Thanks for the updates as always, Steve.
Anthony
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