Gang Violence

990 Words2 Pages

Gang Violence

Gangs are becoming a growing problem in American society. More young

people are turning to gangs to solve problems in their lives. When youths join

gangs they drop social activities with family, friends and school. Members fall

behind their classmates in school and do not try. A study shows that less than

1% of gang bangers is literate1. Gangs destroy teenager lives and destroy their

chances for a good education and happy life. Gangs are now a haven for rats.

Teenagers are joining gangs every day. They join gangs for many reasons.

A former gang member known as G-Ball was very young when he joined a his gang.

He and a friend would play a game. They would pose as gang members to be cool.

Then police arrested him and other gang members for stealing cars. G-Ball never

wanted to be a gang member he wanted to act and dress like one.

Another former gang member, Alonzo, age 17 wanted to join a gang because

he had nothing to do after school. Both he and G-Ball joined a gang by choice.

Keith, age 17 was forced into a gang. If he didn't join, he'd be hunted down

and killed by the gang members. When older family member already in a gang,

younger siblings are often forced in.

Many gangs use graffiti to show their power and to mark their turf.

"Everywhere you go you see graffiti." Professor Allen Walker Read of Columbia

University said, "The pen is mightier than the sword." Gangs in Parma are very

active with the pen. They "tag" their property buildings and houses everywhere.

Police want to know where all the parents are. Why aren't they doing anything

about this? Many people in Parma want to know the answer to the same questions.

Cincinnati also has active gangs. "Graffiti is a creeping problem in

every neighborhood and in and on public buildings" said Mayor Roxanne Qualls of

Cincinnati said. Graffiti is so bad that Star Bank has donated $25,000 to have

students to help clean up all the graffiti.2 The city made a group called the

"E-Racers". These people are ready to clean up all the graffiti. The gangs set

school buses on fire, tear-up park benches, and drive across lawns including the

police station lawns.

Graffiti comes in many forms. Pictures are used to mark property (turf)

but you may also see strange writing below it. They say to other gangs that

they're the best, the number 1 gan...

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...30 Jun. 1994.

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