Resolution
To End the Escalating Gang
Violence through Community Understanding and
Leadership Development by LULAC Councils,
through Collaborative Efforts with Media,
Elected Officials, Educators, Law Enforcement
and Community Gang Prevention Specialists and
Active Gang Members
WHEREAS, gang violence in our
communities:
-
Jeopardizes the future of
children, youth and adults, and their
unfulfilled future potential when they fall
prey to gang recruitment and intimidation or
death;
-
Jeopardizes the safety and
well-being of the whole community, whether
associated with gang members or not;
-
Has the potential to
threaten the civil rights of all members of
the community, both gang members and
non-gang members
-
Should be understood as a
complex socioeconomic phenomena that
requires a variety of approaches; political,
educational, understanding internalized
oppression, appropriate childhood
intervention, cultural awareness, family and
community wellness, gang specialists and
police intervention strategies;
-
Is a creation by prison
inmates who have distorted the use of
Chicano culture and history to misdirect
youth to commit violent acts of fratricide.
(Killing of one’s own brother.
-
Is motivated by competing
and controlling incarcerated gang power
structures who perpetuate their organization
by participating in illicit activities at
the prisons and I our communities;
-
Is perpetuated by
sociopathic behaviors to create a vicious
cycle of fear by intimidation and wanton
death through indiscriminate random acts of
violence
-
Destroys family
structures, the bedrock of our community
THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that LULAC Councils:
-
Shall form alliances with
other communities, civil rights groups,
media, elected officials, gang prevention
specialists, educational, cultural and law
enforcement organizations, and active gang
members to educate ourselves and the
community with the goal of mediating
conflict and suppressing gang violence;
-
Shall support sports,
arts, cultural, academic, counseling and
employment programs, to enhance the future
of the community and counter gang
recruitment;
-
Shall understand and
clearly articulate to the community the
causes and indicators of gang involvement
and attendant violence, caused by complex
socioeconomic factors, oppression, racism,
under-education, under-employment and the
drug culture.
Adopted this 10th day of July
2004.
Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President |