Gang Violence In Our Community

The recent gang attack near Hillcrest High School serves as a grim reminder of the ferocity which is associated with these gang-related incidences, and the fact that gang violence is taking on a life of its own in Queens. In the melee, four students were attacked with knives and bats as other students ran for cover to avoid getting confused as potential gang members.
The incident at Hillcrest High School is not the exception but the norm. Last October, a gang-related incident near Newtown High School caused the stabbing of two students and involved more than 30 gang members. Concerned parents and students approached my office for guidance because they were afraid that they might fall victim to these violent acts and might one day find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Gangs have been in existence for a very long time in the U.S. As the years have gone by, they have developed different ways and techniques of identifying themselves. People could see a gang approaching from blocks away because of similar clothing or distinctive jackets. In the past few years, scrutiny from law enforcement officials and the community has made gangs develop sophisticated ways of identifying themselves. The Bloods identify themselves with the colors red and black, and can wear Chicago Bulls jerseys. The Latin Kings use the colors gold and black, and can wear Pittsburgh Pirates jerseys. There are other types of identifications which involve acronyms such as CK for “Crip Killer” and ADIDAS for “All Day I Disrespect All Slobs.”
The sophistication of these gangs provides an added risk to our children and community. We can no longer tell whether a gang member is our neighbor, passing next to us, or the person sitting next to us on the train. This gives us a perceived notion that there is no gang activity because we cannot see it. In fact, gang violence has been spreading throughout Queens with little to no supervision from Federal law enforcement officials. Graffiti actually serves as a form of “Newspaper” and via the graffiti, gangs and their members can communicate among each other. Those gangs associated with drugs and prostitution can clearly illustrate who and where the goods are sold. In some instances, arrows are made to signal the exact location.
I have led the fight to rid my community of gang violence by bringing awareness to the issue and incorporating the good work of our elected officials, the NYPD and the Guardian Angels. The work is far from over, and more must be done to ensure that gang activity does not propagate throughout New York City. Our children run a real risk of being confused for gang members because of the type or color of their clothing. Let us not wait until a catastrophe occurs. Increased gang enforcement and intervention is necessary, and so is gang education in our schools and community centers.