Protecting Children from Gang Influence Gangs Once found only in large cities, gangs have invaded communities of all sizes across the United States. Gangs bring fear and violence to neighborhoods, traffic in drugs, destroy property, and drive out business. Gangs draw young people away from school and home and into a life of violence. About Gangs Gangs can be organized around race or ethnic group, money-making activities, or territory.
Young people give various reasons for joining gangs.
Among the most common - to belong to a group, for protection, to earn money, for excitement, and to be with friends. For some, it's even family. Gangs signal their existence and solidarity through clothing and head coverings, a special vocabulary, tattoos, hand signs, and tagging their territory with graffiti. The lyrics glorify violence, abuse of women, and disrespect for authority especially the police. Its popularity among the young has helped spread the culture of gangs, cutting across class, economic, racial, and geographic lines.