Ex-gang members discuss community peace
Despite low UCLA student turnout, hosts intend to repeat the
event to further peace
By Tatiana Botton
Rolfe Hall was an unlikely forum to discuss gang crimes in South
Central Los Angeles.
But on Thursday night, opposing ex-gang members and community
leaders were brought together by UCLA’s Multicultural Society and
the African Student Union to discuss peace solutions for Los
Angeles violence.
Former gang members Twilight Bey and Juan Longino said that in
the past, gangs were not violent. It is largely because of the
police department’s "abuse of power" in the 1980s that the
situation worsened, they concluded.
The smaller-than-expected audience mostly agreed with the
speakers’ presentations.
"It really hit me to hear that people are no longer safe, and
that they can be arrested with no reason," said Gretchen Wettig, a
junior film and television student.
The speakers are part of the Community in Support of the Gang
Truce, local advocates for peaceful resolutions to gang
differences. The group was founded in 1992 by Dewayne Holmes, who
helped foster a truce among rival gangs.
Since the truce, gang violence has decreased by 20 percent, said
organization spokesmen.
"We have to understand that this gang truce impacts the
community in a positive way. Police abuse and gang fights only have
negative effects," said Michael Zinzun, a group member.
While Holmes is now in jail for allegedly stealing $10, his
mother spoke in his defense and against police "injustice."
"My son was put in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. He is a
political prisoner," said Theresa Allison, in front of a still
audience.
The event’s organizers said this forum was more political than
cultural, yet felt it was an important topic to present to the UCLA
community.
"Political events also affect culture, for example Proposition
187 is going to affect Mexican-American culture. Politics and
culture run hand in hand," said Andi Mecks, president of the
Multicultural Society.
Mecks admitted she was disappointed at the small turnout for the
forum, only 50 people with about 200 expected.
"A lot of people didn’t really understand what the topic was
about. We should have called it ‘Crime in America,’ and then
probably much more people would have been present," she said.
But even with a small turnout, audience members expressed
concern.
"I came to get some information about what is really happening
with the gangs, and I’m really surprised to see that the Latinos
(gangs) are not signing any truce as the black gangs have," said
Tony Razo, a first-year computer science student.
Others also showed great interest in the issue.
"I came to the meeting because I heard about the Gang Truce, and
also because my best friend is in San Quentin and he talks about
much of the things that the three guests talked about," Wettig
said.
"I usually write letters to the prisoners because it brings so
much joy to them," she continued. "Today I’ve joined the Prison
Coalition, and I’m going to tutor the young incarcerated
youth".
The organizers hope their next meeting will be better received
by UCLA students.
"We were thinking about doing another Gang Truce meeting,
probably outside at the Plaza Building from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.,"
said Meck, although no specific date has been arranged.
Thursday night’s speakers added that they would welcome an
invitation to return to the campus.
"We’re definitely looking forward to coming back and doing this
again at an earlier time. We hope that more people will come," Bey
said.