Fighting Gang Violence with Night Lights and Mass Arrests

Back to News

Monday, July 13, 2009

Fighting Gang Violence with Night Lights and Mass Arrests

(photo: fontplay.com)

For the second year in a row the city of Los Angeles is funding a special program to remove the urban shadows that have allowed street gangs to rule the night across South Central. “Summer Night Lights” keeps 16 parks across crime-ridden neighborhoods illuminated until midnight from Wednesday through Saturday. The program began last year after anti-gang outreach workers raised nearly $1 million in private donations and city officials matched with $1.4 million in public funds to get park lights back on, which has attracted sports leagues, disc jockeys and local residents, including families.

Last year’s inaugural effort caused an 86% drop in homicides and a 17% drop in gang-related violence near the parks, according to police crime statistics. Some parks experienced no homicides for the first summer in years.

The investment in local parks hasn’t preempted the need for traditional law enforcement crackdowns on gang activity. The FBI’s Operation Knock Out—the largest anti-gang case in U.S. history—has brought indictments against 192 individuals from nine gangs, and last week the FBI arrested nearly a dozen individuals allegedly linked to the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang and accused of narcotics trafficking. Federal law enforcement also announced 16 other gang members were arrested from around Southern California on charges that included possessing firearms, more than 400 rounds of ammunition, and one pound of methamphetamine.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

Lighting Up Tough Parks’ Darkness (by Rebecca Cathcart, New York Times)

Program Offers Rays of Hope in an Area on the Edge (by Scott Gold, Los Angeles Times)

Investigation Targeting Varrio Hawaiian Gardens Gang and Associates is Largest Gang Case in U.S. History with Nearly 200 Defendants Named in Federal Indictments (FBI of Los Angeles)

Comments

Michael 14 years ago

Dear Mr. Brinkerhoff, After reading your article, "Fighting Gang Violence with Night Lights and Mass Arrests" I can honestly tell you that I share your passion for change and action. After reading in your artle that "Last year’s inaugural effort caused an 86% drop in homicides and a 17% drop in gang-related violence near the parks, according to police crime statistics. Some parks experienced no homicides for the first summer in years," left me with great pride that there are people out there making a difference. You're article also made me think about the lives of the friends I lost to the gangster life. Although, I live in Australia gangs is a problem we face here as well. I have lost too many friends to that kind of life many of whom dying by the gun, overdosing or ending up in jail. I was headed right where they were. Unfortunately, it took the death of a dear friend of mine to wake me up and start again. Due to that experience, I started over and finished high school. I am currently a nurse and a published author. I am writing to you because a fictitious book I have recently written may help in this direction and I want to draw it to your attention, as you may be interested in it. The title is "Purged by Darkness" and I have used this book to give talks here in Australia to various high school, libraries and youth groups about the reality of gangs and the issues of choice and consequence. I've always believed that the best cure is prevention. If you have any questions, I am most willing to offer my views on this topic. Sincerely Michael Estepa, Published Author www.michaelestepa.com www. eloquentbooks.com/PurgedByDarkness.html

Name

Content

Fighting Gang Violence with Night Lights and Mass Arrests

Comments

Leave a comment