Senator Kirk (and Senator Durbin) want to arrest 18,000 young black men

[cali]

Representative Rush says it's a an upper middle class elitist "white boy" solution.

Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk (R) is recommending that the next US attorney in Chicago step up federal efforts to combat street gang violence through mass arrests of the Gangster Disciples, the prevailing criminal outfit operating on Chicago streets.

Senator Kirk said he wants to see all 18,000 members of the Gangster Disciples prosecuted in federal court and said he believes “it’s completely within the capability of the United States government to crush a major urban gang.” He said the effort will require $30 million in federal funding but is necessary to stop the killing of innocent bystanders like Hadiya Pendleton, the 15-year-old Chicago girl who was killed by Gangster Disciples in January a week after after performing in a marching band at President Obama's inauguration.

But others question the wisdom of Kirk's proposal, with one member of Congress calling it an “upper-middle-class, elitist white boy solution to a problem he knows nothing about.”

<snip>
http://news.yahoo.com/senator-wants-entire-chicago-gang-arrested-214606573.html

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) has some tough words for Sen. Mark Kirk’s (R-Ill.) plan for dealing with gangs, accusing him of offering a “white boy” prescription for the problem.

After Kirk proposed the mass arrests of as many as 18,000 of Chicago’s Gangster Disciples, Rush on Wednesday suggested the senator should keep his solutions to himself.

<snip>

Rush’s words appear aimed at Kirk, though Senate Majority whip Dick Durbin — a Democrat from Illinois — has joined with Kirk on the effort. The two met with U.S. Attorney nominee Zachary Fardon on Wednesday to discuss their plan for the crackdown.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/05/30/rep-bobby-rush-knocks-kirks-white-boy-plan-for-gang-crackdown/

[AnotherMcIntosh]

1. It's known that the Gangster Disciples turn out the vote.

[Notafraidtoo]

2. Gang membership is forced by other gang members.

On many blocks in Chicago,Simply walking to school or waiting for a bus is dangerous because it is assumed you are in a gang by other gang members,the only safety many of these young men and women have is walking in large groups cause it is assumed you are in one anyway and it is largely based on what street you live on.


Very interesting 2 part story on the subject,after listening i have no idea how this problem can be fixed at all,I had always assumed gang membership was a choice.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/487/harper-high-school-part-one

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/488/harper-high-school-part-two

[kelliekat44]

3. Take that money, bring the gang members in and pay them reform their gangs into community servants.

These young men are frustrated, uneducated, and feel hopeless in a system that they know will deny them basic human rights. Many of them see no way to make an honest living some power over their own lives except by being a gang member. Let them be in their gangs but use the money to help them turn those gangs into productive citizens to help themselves and their communities.