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To address the social state of emergency regarding urban violence, I have written this protocol for street peace, a comprehensive strategy for peace and reconstruction within the community. My provisional design can be modified to meet the needs of each particular situation in any community – no matter where the location in the United States or elsewhere in the world. The United States government's approach to urban violence is often to launch one of its intermittent "wars" on crime and then trumpet success by pointing to wholesale incarcerations, yet fail to deter or rehabilitate the criminal mentality. But, for a generation of disgruntled youth and adults, living the thug life and going to prison have morphed into an underdog aspiration. But placing blame is irrelevant. We must concentrate on a workable solution. The approach to resolving an epidemic begins with understanding the origins of it, the causes and effects. To broach this issue I draw on my life and gang experience as the co-founder of the infamous Crips. I grew up in South Central Los Angeles amidst poverty, street gangs, pimps, prostitutes, police tyranny, illegal drugs, criminality, and other social injustices. Here was a social vacuum without paternal guidance, without career-oriented programs, and without a nurturing village or community to support the male rite of passage toward becoming a responsible adult. Violence, gangs and street level socioeconomic crimes (selling drugs, robbery, prostitution and theft) were – and continue to be – direct results of living in these conditions. This social vacuum has spawned urban nihilists like the Crips, the Bloods, and many other street gangs. Gangs serve as a weapon of rebellion against parental authority, culture, religion, community, law enforcement, the world, God, and other gangs. The muscular irrationality of a gang's instinct to survive is used to justify any wrongful act, even at the expense of a family member, stranger, friend or foe. The motto "through whatever method demanded" serves as a destructive rationale for street gangs to fend for themselves in society, without regard for anyone else. Each faction operates as an independent, lawless body that has no difficulty recruiting among the disenfranchised. The absence of basic access to affordable housing, health care, quality education, secure employment and other necessities produces social instability. Any efforts to establish a peace policy will be doomed unless there is tangible social progress. Peace cannot be sustained without it! Poverty, racism and hopelessness foster an environment that supports the growth of toxic conditions. Understanding
Retaliation Trying to stop belligerent gangs from retaliating against each other is difficult. Retaliation brings a sense of machismo and an earned street "rep" (reputation). Society sees only a cycle of senseless murders, an unending tragedy. It would amaze both gang members and others in society to hear that conflicts between Crips and Bloods on death row – where I live – are rare. These sworn enemies engage in non-hostile dialogues, banter, share food and books, study, and exercise together on the same prison yards without controversy. If notorious rivals who have been exterminating one another for more than three decades can establish a truce in prison, then a cease-fire is surely possible in society. Throughout California prisons, Crips and Bloods coexist for the purpose of survival. That simple philosophy can be transmitted to rival gangs in society. Instead of our killing each other, that energy can be harnessed to oppose poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, discrimination, and other social and judiciary injustices. There are many reasons why warring factions should avoid this cycle of violence and retaliation, of lextalionis (eye for an eye): innocents are injured or killed, and the psychic and social scars on adults and children are handed down to next generations. Conclusion Here on death row I have discussed a street gang truce with individuals from different age groups, geographical locales, gangs, and mentalities. I discovered that my ideological and philosophical outlook on peace was in step with perspectives of the newer and the older generation. I also realized it is illogical to create a peace not based on an individual and collective improvement of the lives of community members. Failure to establish a truce that includes a social agenda will cause any negotiation for peace to relapse into war. I am convinced that peace is possible, despite the many lives that have been lost from years of youth gang warfare. This document is designed to assist those whose aspirations are to create a cease-fire, end gang violence and restore social order. Although I have heard pessimistic individuals quote the English translation of the Latin phrase si vis pace, para bellum – if you desire peace, prepare for war – I strongly disagree. Real peace will conquer war. |
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