ART 3170 Civic Engagement: Social Issues "Action" Project: Gang Violence

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Gang Violence

By: Jorge Herrera

Research:

Gang violence affects many people not necessarily those involved with a gang but their families, friends and those in various communities. I grew up in Logan Heights, a neighborhood known for its gang violence it is located in San Diego, California. On November 1994 the gang of Logan Heights was asked to travel to Mexico by the Tijuana Cartel to takeout their competition "El Chapo" Guzman. Apparently the hit was called off but while at the airport another group made a hit on a Catholic Cardinal and the gang was blamed for it, therefore making the gang more infamous.

According to John M. Hagedorn in his article "The Global Impact of Gangs" it is important to do research on gangs and their activities but it must be global. John mentions other infamous gangs such as MS-13 from Salvador, 18th Street from Honduras and many others from various countries. He mentions how such gangs move from violence in the street to getting involved deeper in the community such as running prisons, music industries and social organizations like politics.

Sources:

Hagedorn, J. M. "The Global Impact of Gangs." Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 21.2 (2005): 153-69. Web. 1 Dec. 2016.

Rotella, Sebastian. "Caught on the Borderline : San Diego Men Say They Were Framed for Cardinal's Murder, but Extradition to Mexico Is Imminent." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 1994. Web. 5 Dec. 2016.

Personal:

I chose to blog about gang violence because it affects my life and many people around me. My best friend who I met in elementary school grew up and join the neighborhood gang, he was stabbed to death multiple times while he was going to visit his girlfriend. The people's destiny involved in gangs end up either being killed or in jail, there are lots of cases where people realize their mistakes and try to have a better life style but it is usually as an adult. Gangs recruit young men and women mostly from poor neighborhoods and make them believe they are like family and they would die for each other and kill for each other. They target kids because they know they will be charged as minors and won't do much jail time as an adult would, depending on the crime of course. The affiliation with gangs tare families apart, not just because of deaths or jail time but also by addictions to drugs or alcohol. I am hoping that with this blog people will realize how dangerous gangs can become and how we should study them like John M. Hagedorn mentions in his article to find a way to prevent gang violence not only in our country but around the world as well.