I am enraged at the rise of violence in Salinas. There have been four shooting in which two people were killed. One male was 26 and the other 23. As a mother of two boys, I could not bury one of my children. Impossible! More and more mothers are being forced to plan funerals instead of weddings. I remember this girl I went to school with everyone hated her she was having a car wash, I stopped and asked what it was for and she told me her brother was murdered. The next day they were having a barbeque outside of a liquor store still trying to raise money for the funeral. I was so sad that I gave them the money that I had on both days. I could not understand how a family does not even have time to grieve over a loved one. When I showed up to the BBQ the family members were dressed out in their Norteno attire. I was confused and pissed off at the same time. Being in the gang is just what got your loved one killed now they were on the Eastside flaming. Put your shit down for a minute!!! People Please!!! I know the game, I understand why they dressed out, but that was someone’s child. Show respect to the family by not trying to incite more violence. Two kids under 18 died across the street from my house at a grocery store. Their bodies lay on the cold concrete parking lot for about 6 hours, I saw the mother pull up in a van and identify her son. This to me is heartbreaking, but yet normal. Please raise awareness, talk to the youth in your community, recognize the signs, become proactive, do something. By doing something you may save two lives, one from prison and the other form being taken.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Rise in Gang Violence
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I think the oppression and outsider status causes violence. It manifests as anger, hate,rebellion and feeling hopeless. If we first learn to look for what we have in common then we can learn to accept the differences and work together while maintaining our identies. Free speech and democracy. Keep in mind change is slow and over the last thirty years our community has changed those rapidly. It is hard for those in power to give it up. We are learning and it will change through education and people like you. Please don't give up, the world needs more indignation!
I was truly touched by this blog and it hit home for me because of the family I have. I just hate the system of the gang world although, when you look at it all these guys or even girls are really looking for is love, attention, and care. Only one problem, their loyalty is always on trial so they have to "perform"
On the news last night they covered the story about the parents who were publicly "celebrating" the lives of their children lost to street violence. It was really sad to see so many parents talking about the circumstances under which their kids were lost. It just seems to be getting worse in Salinas. They just had another shooting last week at the park where a few days before they were organizing basketball games to help kids in the neighborhood find ways to stay out of trouble. I think the poverty and crowding (especially in the east side) are making me these kids feel like they don't have much hope for the future and gangs are offering them some sense of security they may not be getting elsewhere. I agree that parents must be more involved but some of these parents are working 2 jobs just to keep from losing their homes. Obama said yesterday that he thinks poverty in America can be ended within 30 years. What's going to happen until then?
I liked your post because it brings to attention this very serious matter. I work on East Market street in Salinas where one of these shootings took place. The rise in Gang violence is so serious right now, and it really gives Salinas a bad reputation, but I always feel totally safe there. I feel like a lot of Gang members are gang members because of the way they where raised. Sometimes their father was in a Gang. We need better education systems and to try and help these people, not just put them in jail.
Post a Comment