I am a white old immigrant to the States

[sadoldgirl]

and I have a question for you, but before I do put it before
you, I would like to state this:

I am ashamed of any Bernie supporter, who did this to
Bravenak or who would support such a disgusting
letter. She and I conversed a bit before she was forced to
leave, and I have missed exchanges with her.

Now here is my honest question to this forum:

I have lived for about 3 decades in a black community
in my city. Some of my neighbors have become dear
friends, others I don't know so well. I had never had
many problems due to any racial reason. Our neighborhood
is a low income middle-class community.

There is a serious problem though with gangs (Cribbs and
Bloods) that comes up, goes down, and now has
come up again. The parents worry about their children
getting involved and getting hurt.
What is the reason for those gangs to have so much
influence in spite of most people's worry? I just
have trouble understanding it. Please, if you can
try to explain.

I have to leave now, but will look at your answers
tomorrow. Thanks in advance.

[SummerSnow]

1. Imo..

I also live in a area with gang violence. I think many young are attracted to gangs because they feel that they can reach a certain status that they couldn't get outside the gang lifestyle. Many of these children may have been bullied in school and are not popular. Also there is the safety factor, if they are bullied in school or in their neighborhood joining the gang gives them a level of protection. They feel if other kids know they are in a gang the bullying will stop and other kids will be afraid of them. Then there is the so called family unity they feel they have in joining a gang. if they come from homes where its abusive and there is no family unity or closeness they feel by joining a gang places them in a "family" I grew up with kids who joined gangs for these reasons. That was some years back and I don't think it has changed.

[sadoldgirl]

3. Thank you, I always thought

that when a community comes together, they could
have more control over it. Yet the gun violence seems
to leave it up to the cops, and we don't trust them very much.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. It goes waaaaaay beyond the bloods and the crips

If you aren't asking about MS 13 - regardless of where you live/your neighborhood - you are missing the real threats.

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/gangs

They poison our streets with drugs, violence, and all manner of crime.

Some 33,000 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs, and prison gangs with about 1.4 million members are criminally active in the U.S. today. Many are sophisticated and well organized; all use violence to control neighborhoods and boost their illegal money-making activities, which include robbery, drug and gun trafficking, fraud, extortion, and prostitution rings. According to the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report, gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions, and up to 90 percent in others. We’re redoubling our efforts to disrupt and dismantle gangs through intelligence-driven investigations and new initiatives and partnerships.

MS-13 Gang Task Force
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/gangs/gangs_ms13taskforce

Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, continues to expand its influence in the United States. FBI investigations reveal that it is present in almost every state and continues to grow its membership, now targeting younger recruits more than ever before.

To counteract this growth, the FBI formed the MS-13 National Gang Task Force in December 2004. Based at FBI Headquarters, this intelligence-driven task force combines the expertise, resources, and jurisdiction of federal agencies that investigate this violent international street gang. It focuses on maximizing the flow of information and intelligence, coordinating investigations nationally and internationally, and helping state and local law enforcement improve operations and prosecutions targeting MS-13.

As Director Mueller has said, the task force “can see connections from the 30,000-foot perspective and can help direct and coordinate investigations.”

The task force has instituted the Central American Fingerprint Exploitation (CAFÉ) initiative to acquire criminal fingerprints from the Central American region and to merge those fingerprints and associated criminal records into our Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) database.

https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/2011-national-gang-threat-assessment/2011-national-gang-threat-assessment#Expansion
Expansion of Ethnic-Based and Non-Traditional Gangs

^^^^^ Further Down the Page ^^^^^^

Gangs and Alien Smuggling, Human Trafficking, and Prostitution

Gang involvement in alien smuggling, human trafficking, and prostitution is increasing primarily due to their higher profitability and lower risks of detection and punishment than that of drug and weapons trafficking. Over the past year, federal, state, and local law enforcement officials in at least 35 states and US territories have reported that gangs in their jurisdictions are involved in alien smuggling, human trafficking, or prostitution.

Alien Smuggling

Many street gangs are becoming involved in alien smuggling as a source of revenue. According to US law enforcement officials, tremendous incentive exists for gangs to diversify their criminal enterprises to include alien smuggling, which can be more lucrative and less risky than the illicit drug trade. Over the past two years numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies nationwide have reported gang involvement in incidents of alien smuggling. In some instances, gang members were among those being smuggled across the border into the United States following deportation. In other cases, gang members facilitated the movement of migrants across the US-Mexico border.g

Alien Smuggling - I don't think that's the bloods and crips - they are too busy trying to overcome. (Reference to a Dave Chappelle skit)

[sadoldgirl]

4. Jebus, that sounds like a new

and international Mafia. I knew about the alien
smuggle, but thought it applied only to the
Southern states. Thus we have now a situation
worse than the old Wild West. If crime did not
pay, these gangs would die out; but since crimes
committed by corporations, banks, etc is very
lucrative, we cannot expect a different attitude
down the line.

Thank you for the info.