Gangs

9 Pages 2157 Words

order to take full advantage or their territory. “Poverty…influences Gang membership. Young people who grow up in poverty” may think” good jobs may not… be available to them” (Gedatus 8). They join the gang to struggle for a better life. Crime involvement seems to be a quick and effective way of earning money. Graffiti is used to mark gang territory (Nawojczyk). It is a strong visual reminder that local residents of certain neighborhood have something to be scared or concerned about. It can appear on buildings, mailboxes, walls, sidewalks, or namely anywhere. Gangs believe that the graffiti that they have illustrated showes their power. When gangs have displayed graffiti in a neighborhood, no one in that area is safe. “The most common way for gangs to communicate their message” is through “ urban street gang graffiti” (Nawojczyk). Graffiti is one of the first important signs of gangs taking hold in your neighborhood. It is a so-called bulletin board for gangs, expressing messages such as challenges, warnings and announcements of actions that have taken place or are soon about to.

Drive-by shootings of houses or cars are a form of violent vandalism. Drive-by shootings are sometimes intended to hurt a specific person. This usually results in murder. Gang members are known for destroying public property to get back at society. Parking meters, bus stalls, or lighting fixtures are just some of the things that are violently vandalized. Many people are victims or gang violence just because of the simple fact that they are wearing gang colors. Assault and sometimes-even murder is brought upon victims with knives,guns, or other harmful weapons. Innocent people such as witnesses or even family of gang members are victims of gang violence.

When a large street gang sends away members to start a group in anew city or neighborhood to increase criminal activity, it is referred to as the “imperialist method” of gang move...