On the same day as the funeral in east LA and the murder in Venice, another gang member, Ruben Rojas, is told that his crack cocaine conviction has been quashed. Rojas, a senior member of the Temple Street gang, is one of dozens to have been busted by a former member of the Crash squad, one Rafael Perez. What has emerged from his testimony is that some of his fellow officers felt that any means necessary could be employed against gang members, including shooting them after they were handcuffed and disarmed. There is much millennial talk on the west coast, but perhaps 2000 will signal the beginning of the end of the wars. People have started to see that 'smart on crime' rather than 'tough on crime' makes sense.
People have to see that there is a high degree of complexity about belonging to a gang.
It's a symptom, not a problem. They have to see these kids as human beings.