Stavolta sembra che mi sia andata un pò meglio. Ho scambiato quattro chiacchiere col fotografo statunitense Robert Yager diventato un’autorità nel mondo del foto reportage con un lavoro sulle gangs Latine che vivono in America di cui mi sono subito innammorato. Ovviamente non potevo farmi sfuggire l’occasione per conoscere meglio il lavoro di Robert e farmi raccontare da lui cosa si prova a fotografare i membri di una delle più temute gang di Los Angeles ed osservare da vicino, con l’occhio indiscreto della sua macchina fotografica, la vita di gente eufemisticamente “poco raccomandabile”.Stavolta sembra che mi sia andata un pò meglio. Ho scambiato quattro chiacchiere col... more
'Carrot Top, Duracell, Period Head, Ginger Bollocks, Ginger Pubes, You Lanky String Of Ginger Piss' Why do so many seemingly decent people think gingism is perfectly acceptable?
They are bullied and heading for extinction. Simon Hattenstone (father of one redhead) asks whether gingerism remains the last acceptable prejudice?'Carrot Top, Duracell, Period Head, Ginger Bollocks, Ginger Pubes, You Lanky String Of... more
A six-month anti-gang sweep has resulted in 1,472 arrests nationwide of foreign-born people suspected of criminal acts in the United States, officials announced Thursday.
The arrests were part of "Operation Community Shield" -- a four-year effort battling "transnational" crimes -- meaning the crimes are organized across national borders.
Ninety-one people were arrested in North Texas, including 30 in Fort Worth, 47 in Dallas and seven in Arlington, according to a news release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Targeted gangs included MS-13, Surenos-13, 18th Street Gang, Latin Kings, Bloods, Crips and Vatos Locos, according to ICE.A six-month anti-gang sweep has resulted in 1,472 arrests nationwide of foreign-born... more
FROM THE NEWS BLOG:
My colleague Josh Heller over at Current_Comedy posted this collection of pretty hilarious dance videos featuring policemen in uniform. Two of them are from Mexico, where police corruption is endemic. While not following protocol is certainly a problem for Mexico's policemen, it is my solemn duty as Mr. Serious on the Current team to remind everyone that corruption in Mexico's police force is far, far worse than a little rump-shakin'.
Just a few weeks ago from the AP: Mexico: Army raid finds cash addressed to police:
"Soldiers raiding a drug gang safehouse in northern Mexico found money-stuffed envelopes earmarked for various police forces and one marked for "press," authorities said Tuesday. Four people were arrested and $5 million in U.S. and Mexican currency was seized during the raid Monday in the industrial city of Monterrey, according to an army statement. Soldiers, acting on an anonymous tip, also seized drugs, money counting machines, cell phones and five vehicles.
Monterrey and the surrounding state of Nuevo Leon, which borders Texas, have been a focus of the federal government's crackdown on police corruption.
The cash and seized items were displayed at military barracks north of the city, with dozens of white envelopes containing some of the cash arranged in rows on a table.
Envelopes at the front of the rows had yellow post-it notes with the names of police precincts in Monterrey and other municipal forces in Nuevo Leon state. One was labeled press."
In Mexico's battle to fight off the drug gangs, the corruption in its police force has been crippling. Many part of the police are so corrupt, in fact, that they work for the gangs themselves. It's been so bad that Mexican President Calderon had to start using the Army to battle gangs.FROM THE NEWS BLOG:
My colleague Josh Heller over at Current_Comedy posted this... more
A man in New Orleans is facing a life sentence for having a small gang sign tattooed on his 7-year-old son's hip let out a long sigh Friday when a judge said the act was not aggravated mayhem, a charge normally reserved for crippling attacks, instead of getting a life sentence the man is facing 7years...A man in New Orleans is facing a life sentence for having a small gang sign tattooed... more
History Of The Midwest Gangbang Thang!!! Get the ****FREE***DOWNLOAD*** of "Midwest Gangland"History Of The Midwest Gangbang Thang!!! Get the ****FREE***DOWNLOAD*** of "Midwest... more
With everything that is going wrong in the world today it is no wonder families are breaking apart. We have become a society more dependent on government than at any time in history.
We must save our family to save America.
We must work on keeping our families together. We must teach our children the basics of life and right from wrong. We must teach them to be self reliant and explain that nothing in life comes free.With everything that is going wrong in the world today it is no wonder families are... more
What is America’s problem with allowing young Black men dying in the inner cities? Is it White on Black Racism or Black on Black crime? Honor student Derrion Albert, an African-American, was killed Thursday when he was beaten to death in a rival gang war on the streets of Chicago. Four black youths have been charged in the incident.
From LATimes: "Hundreds of police officers and federal law enforcement agents launched a major assault on the Avenues gang this morning, hoping to deal a blow to an elusive group they say is responsible for some of Los Angeles' most notorious street crime.
Under the cover of darkness around 3 a.m., roughly 1,200 heavily armed officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and several other agencies dispersed from a command post near the LAPD’s training academy in Elysian Park.
Warrants in hand, they descended on dozens of homes in search of 53 alleged members or associates of the Avenues gang wanted on an array of federal charges related to extensive drug dealing, unsolved murders and other crimes."
Full story at link...
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I think there are several interesting aspects to this article. I'm glad to see action against a notoriously violent gang, but the use of paramilitary units in US cities still disturbs me. For all the manpower, firepower, and armored machinery, "[t]here were no reports of officers encountering armed resistance. San Bernardino sheriff's officers say they shot two aggressive dogs they encountered at one location". And, although this wasn't exclusively an LAPD operation, they were well-represented in the 1,200 raiders, which makes me wonder how many stories of abuse and depravity will follow.From LATimes: "Hundreds of police officers and federal law enforcement agents launched... more
With sickening bravado, these gang members posed proudly with their weapons, posting the photos on the internet.
But the attempt to boost their street image backfired when police used the pictures to send the violent youths to prison.
The members of Sheffield's notorious Parson Cross Crew gang, named after a council estate in the city, were convicted of firearms offences.With sickening bravado, these gang members posed proudly with their weapons, posting... more
A French filmmaker who made a documentary about gangs in El Salvador has been shot dead on a road near the capital, police said.
The body of Christian Poveda, 54, was found on Wednesday in El Rosario county along with documents he was carrying close to his vehicle, a National Civil Police spokesman told AFP.
President Mauricio Funes said he was "dismayed" by the photographer and journalist's killing, which he "strongly condemned."
The Central American leader called on authorities to "conduct all necessary investigations so that those responsible are brought to justice". He called on the country to unite to "combat together" the scourge of violence hitting El Salvador.
Poveda, police say, was on his way back from filming in gang-controlled La Campanera, a poor suburb north of San Salvador.
The French-Spanish journalist has published reports in numerous journals including The New York Times, Le Monde, El Pais, Paris Match and Stern, mostly on Latin American affairs.
His documentaries have been broadcast around the world and featured at film festivals.
One of his most recent documentaries, "La Vida Loca" (2008), followed the Mara 18 gang of heavily tattooed Salvadoran youths who engage in drug trafficking and extortion.
Salvadoran journalists expressed outrage at the killing. "It is a sad loss. The cruel hand of violence has taken him from us," said Juan Jose Dalton of the Foreign Correspondents Association of El Salvador.A French filmmaker who made a documentary about gangs in El Salvador has been shot... more
Ciudad Juarez is a major Mexican city on the border with the United States, 1 and a half million inhabitants and a strong economic integration with neighbour El Paso, Texas. But unfortunately the city is known for his appalling crime rate that has made it the most violent city in the world.The Mexican president has sent 10,000 soldiers of the army to maintain order, but so far the results seem poor.Ciudad Juarez is a major Mexican city on the border with the United States, 1 and a... more
San Jose California; June 17,2009 / G. Ange; A working two alarm structure fire breaks into a neighborhood Fist Fight and Brawl in the early morning hours of June 17,2009. San jose Fire dispatchers after receiving multiple calls about a structure fire sent fire crews to 3354 Denton Way, Upon arrival found a single family residence and attached garage fully engulfed in flame. But, as the crews were in the first stages of attacking the fire, a brawl between the neighbors and the residents of the burning house. broke out on the front lawn of the structure. Police were then called code 3 by the IC to control the fire scene and to protect the safety of the fire fighters. After the police arrived and quickly secured the scene, The working fire was brought under control and extinguished and the overhaul process began.
The presumed point of ignition was secured and taped off for "Arson investigators" to investigate the cause of the fire that destroyed three vehicles and the garage and the front half of the structure.
Chris Grayling, the UK's shadow home secretary, has mentioned The Wire in a speech about law and order in Britain. He has compared parts of the country to the inner city squalor and gang violence seen on the programme.
He says that parts of Manchester, Liverpool and London have similar problems of violent gang culture.
Do you think he's right?Chris Grayling, the UK's shadow home secretary, has mentioned The Wire in a speech... more
The largest gang intervention program in the country, Home Boy Industries, may be forced to shut their doors due to economic whoas.
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"...an L.A. non-profit that gives gangbangers an alternative to street life, and helps them get OUT. The group provides everything from education, to job training and placement, to mental health counseling… even tattoo removal.
Homeboy does a lot of good, for individuals and for the community. But as it says on their website, “Homeboy needs help.”
Kyra talked to Father Greg Boyle, the group’s founder, and David Oropeza, an ex-gang member..."
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Please check out this video report at CNN.
Consider what a difference this organization has been (and is) making, not only in the lives of the individuals whom it supports, but importantly to our greater society...
Isn't a huge part of our progress (as human beings, as a society) dependent upon building bridges? Bridging the divisions between our people that work to undermine all that we hope and dream for?
Check it out... Homeboy Industries really is an incredible dream. I feel that the dismantling of this bridge would be a huge loss, and I do not mean only to the city of Los Angeles, I mean to us all.
Together we all can make a difference... please stop by at http://www.homeboy-industries.org/ ...check out what its about... and make a donation, no matter how small.
TwoHawksThe largest gang intervention program in the country, Home Boy Industries, may be... more
Documentary me and other Coventry University students created in our second year. The documentary looks at urban city youth involved in crime (gangs, violence, theft).Documentary me and other Coventry University students created in our second year. The... more
No doubt the boss at Millionaire Entertainment is salivating over all the press coverage of his latest brainchild, “Thuggin It & Lovin It.” A seemingly unending media juggernaut lead by traditional media outlets as well as new media representation has set the streets abuzz, igniting sales of the video that were never expected. As the Notorious B.I.G. famously said, “Mo money, mo problems,” as quickly as copies are flying off the shelf, they could force some people be flying into the clink.No doubt the boss at Millionaire Entertainment is salivating over all the press... more
BALTIMORE (AP) — A feud between rival drug gangs led to a shooting at a backyard cookout that left 12 people wounded, including a pregnant woman and a 2-year-old girl, Baltimore’s police commissioner said Monday.
In all, 16 people were shot, two of them fatally, in four incidents in poverty-stricken east Baltimore over a period of about three hours Sunday night and early Monday morning, police said. At least one of the subsequent shootings was related to the attack at the cookout, Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said.
The number of people shot in such a short period was unprecedented in the city’s history, the commissioner said.
“It stacks up pretty high,” Bealefeld said. “To have 12 people shot in one incident and (others) scattered around east Baltimore, it’s just absolutely ridiculous.”
The cookout shooting happened around 9 p.m. A gunman walked into the backyard of a rowhouse on Ashland Avenue and opened fire with a semiautomatic weapon before fleeing on foot, police said.
None of the dozen victims suffered life-threatening injuries. They were hit in the legs, arms, shoulders and backs, and the wounded included a 2-year-old girl, who was shot in the arm, and a pregnant 23-year-old, who took a bullet in the thigh, police said.
Investigators are “confident” they know who was being targeted in that shooting, Bealefeld said. Police did not identify any of the victims Monday morning.
“These are two organizations that tried to eliminate each other based on this drug feud,” Bealefeld said. “They have no regard for who stands in the middle of that.”July 27, 2009
BALTIMORE (AP) — A feud between rival drug gangs led to a shooting... more
