Truce to bring peace issues to campus
Gangs sign pact to reduce South Central violence
By Tatiana Botton
Dewayne Holmes dreamed of peace from gang fighting. Today, the
Gang Truce he began has spread across the United States and will be
presented at UCLA tonight in Rolfe Hall.
"My name is Dewayne Holmes, a key initiator of the Gang Truce in
Los Angeles. I am presently serving time in a California state
prison. I believe, that is in part, because of my role in trying to
awaken the consciousness of the brothers and sisters in my
community," wrote Holmes in a letter from prison.
The many killings in South Central, Los Angeles, inspired Holmes
to create the Gang Truce in 1991. Now this peace treaty reaches all
over the United States and to other parts of the world, bringing
together rival gang members in an effort to stop violence and
killings.
At 6 p.m., the UCLA African Student Union and UCLA Multicultural
Society, are presenting the Gang Truce at UCLA’s Rolfe Hall.
"It’s an important issue because it’s about learning what there
is needed to stop the gang shootings," said Andi Meck, one of the
founders of the UCLA Muticultural Society.
Last year roughly 600 gang-related deaths occurred, but despite
the statistics, shootings have decreased 20 percent ever since gang
members signed the truce in South Central, Michael Zinzun, a member
of the Community in Support of the Gang Truce organization
said.
Since its creation, the truce has spread peace to cities like
Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia and Atlanta among others.
Now the African Student Union and Multicultural Society are
inviting Holmes’ mother Theresa Allison, ex-gang members and other
members of the Community in Support of the Gang Truce organization,
to introduce this subject to the UCLA community.
"We are hoping that the campus will come out and endorse the
Truce," Zinzun said. "We hope that the students will understand and
help, and that the teachers will give the message to the youngest
community of students."
Most members of the Gang Truce are from the Crips and Bloods,
two historically rival gangs in South Central. Unfortunately, not
many Latinos are involved with the truce, Zinzun said.
A good way to support the Gang Truce is in trying to free
Dewayne Holmes, Zinzun added.
Holmes was put in jail in October 1992, and was sentenced to 10
years in prison for a $10 robbery two witnesses said he did not
commit.
Later that sentence was reduced by three years following moving
pleas by former Gov. Jerry Brown and other members of Congress.
An appeals hearing to free Holmes attracted many supporters to
the Long Beach Superior Court, Tuesday. However, the appeal on his
conviction was denied, and Holmes, 27, will remain in jail at least
until 1996.
"They locked him up for a crime he didn’t commit. He is a
political prisoner," Allison said.
Since the creation of the Gang Truce, gang crime has
declined.
"The truce brought peace," explained Allison. "Peace is not just
for South Central, crime happens all over the city. This will
benefit everybody.
"When the killing stops, we can all be free," she said.