ONE SECTION: [Lopez]

From the Streets to the War in Iraq

By Rebecca Lopez

Colors, hand signs, and territories is what causes a gang to fight one another. The Latin Kings and Cobras are only two of many gang groups that are terrorizing our communities; and the violence among them is only increasing. However, you don’t have to be involved in an actual gang to be "jumped" by other gang members. Gang violence is even affecting the innocent people, who by mistake decided to wear the gang’s rival colors.

 May 17 of last year, in Los Angeles a young boy of sixteen was brutally assaulted while walking to his home. Witnesses said to have heard a lot of yelling, and when they looked outside, the boy was on the floor being beat by three individuals.

 "The boy was wearing the rival gang colors on his shirt" said City Official Jenner of LAPD, "They are finding every reason to fight."

The three suspects were then found, fined, and then released. However, months later they were arrested again for a similar case.

 This is only one of many gang violence stories occurring all over the united states, Los Angeles, Chicago, and the Bronx being the most common cities. Gang violence is indeed increasing in our streets. Gang bangers are finding any excuse to fight. If only they used this anger and energy for good.

 President Obama met with Congress to start a new plan to end this problem, and bring peace and safety to our streets. In a press conference last Monday, he explained the new plan.

 State officials will drive around the city streets picking up any person wearing baggy clothes, with tattoos, or in big groups. They will be taken to a secret facility where they will be given uniforms and then put on a plane and sent to Iraq to fight in the war.

 "They have a huge urge to fight. Why not fight for our country," he stated, "they can take out all their anger and energy fighting the real enemy".

 President Obama is also asking for the country's cooperation. He asks anybody who has a friend or family relative in a gang to turn them in to State Officials by December 1, 2009. However, will people really cooperate? Will this new plan really end gang violence?

 Many fellow citizens don’t believe this is the right approach to ending the violence.

"We need to help them. We need to change them,” said Michael Jay, a Professor at Harvard University, "the help starts in their own homes."

 Congress has passed this Gangster-Free Plan that will take effect on December 25. We hope President Obama is right, and our streets will be safe again.