The LA Times has a secret crush on the Avenues Gang!
I can’t decide if it’s the awesome tats or the baggy duds…still stylish a decade later, apparently!
It’s always First Class to get an article written about you on the front page of the Times, and this time it’s the Avenues gang that hit the jackpot. I imagine gangs all over the city are envious, and wondering how they, too, can get such reportage and press. Don’t hesitate to read it: it’s family-ready, and really very forward-thinking!
The title of the article sets the tone:
A gang’s staying power
There’s a positive spin for you! Here are some of the other highlighted phrases that tell me the Times is in love:
- [the Avenues gang] continues to defy the forces of law
- The young men who rule Drew Street have survived countless convictions, injunctions, evictions and deportations.
- Police have tried to crush them for years, but for all the law enforcement rained upon the shabby two blocks of wrought-iron fences and stucco apartments, homeboys still command the street…
- …the notorious Avenues gang … has tenaciously retained control over a wide swath of Northeast L.A., defying both the forces of gentrification and heavy crackdowns by police
- The insignia tattooed on many members’ bodies speaks to their virulent history: a skull with a bullet hole, wearing a fedora. (how very colorful!)
- …resilience through the decades
- …one of the most powerful gangs in the city
- …shared history breeds loyalty. Several residents interviewed Friday said they supported the Avenues. “I’ve been here 25 years and they’ve never disrespected me,” said Modesta Hernandez. “On the contrary, they protect us. They help us.” They depicted the police as hostile and corrupt, and several said the shooting of Daniel Leon was unprovoked, although one neighbor said he clearly saw Leon raise the assault weapon at the officers.
The reporters, Joe Mozingo, Sam Quinones, and Richard Winton, don’t have their heads in the sky however. Their affection for the gang is tempered by some cold ugly facts, and they admit there are some negatives with this gang. (For instance, on Feb 23 they killed 2 people and shut down the whole area for hours. That wasn’t very nice.) The reporters also used these descriptions:
- virulent history
- wreaked havoc
- illegal
- And in 2006, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles won hate-crime convictions against five members for a murderous campaign to force African Americans out of their turf.
So let’s compare the negatives and positives: the love shines through. You’re busted, guys!
Donna Barstow
Griffith Park is the 2nd biggest park in the US, and I'm just the person to investigate it! I've lived here for over 25 years. I was part of the PROS Committee in Griffith Park Neighborhood Council and am on the Housing & Tenants Rights Committee in the Silver Lake NC. I'm in the LA Press Club, and you can find some of my articles in the LA Weekly and the Los Feliz Ledger. I'm a cartoonist for Parade Magazine, The New Yorker, LA Times, Slate, & most major media. Questions and contacts welcome.
11 Comments
Dr. JEKILL 1
What about Not Even God or The Police Can Stop Us, Now I Even Believe What I Read Idiots, What about a comic book on how the [we] Avenues killed superman the hulk and batman,ha ha ha The Invincible Avenues Gang From The Drew Street Fortress Of Course, M.D Jekill 1 Thanks For The ???????????
Dr. JEKILL 1
What about Not Even God or The Police Can Stop Us, Now I Even Believe What I Read Idiots, What about a comic book on how the [we] Avenues killed superman the hulk and batman,ha ha ha The Invincible Avenues Gang From The Drew Street Fortress Of Course, M.D Jekill 1 Thanks For The ??????????? That’s right L.os A.venues Times
Preciouz
well i think that Avenues gang cant be stopped they might have killed some of our worriors but we still got an army and we arnt hear to kill were hear to help and to get our barrio respect …. RIP Randy Martinez and Daniel Leon my homies and family
Alex & Richie (Los PeeWee's)
Much respect to my primos Los PeeWee’s
MrsMommhy
Well, just like we have the plague, which wipes out thousands, and good and bad bacteria in our bodies; we also have destructive people.
It’s like a cancer: you’ve got to get it out of your body before it destroys you.
Although cancer is a living thing (a cell); it will bring down the whole house (body) if it is not eradicated.
There are human plagues that have no reason to exist but to spread disharmony and chaos where ever it takes root.
I have no problem with authorities rooting out this cancer and getting rid of it.
If people want to take on the role of human plague: Then they must be stopped with no mercy.
Donna Barstow
You got it, MrsMommhy.
Martin Batista
Time will tell that law enforcement is only creating a larger problem nation wide. Intervention is the key. Many youth watching the media glamorize what they see.Youth then want to join gangs.Immediate action with intervention needs to be acted, immediately following the raids.For example federal crisses teams that offer resources for the youth in the community.
The amount of money to hold someone in a federal or state prison outweighs the one momment or few momments of fame law enforcement receives. Criminals network nationwide and make taxpayers pay for even a larger price then the crime in California. We can win battles but in the long run will lose the war against crime and gangs unless some serious changes are made through intervention. For example programs like Homeboy Industries in L.A., or the village in Pritchard Alabama, or summer night lights by Aztecs Rising in los Angeles.
God bless the nation. Lets just pray that we do not make more sophisticated criminals in our federal prisons. Much Love and Blessings to all walks of life, no matter what color or origin.
Donna Barstow
Ah, someone who understands irony! Thanks, Martin. And so agree that prisons aren’t the right answer for gangs.
I guess the only part I don’t understand is the glamour… Although the LA Times certainly tries hard to help on that end. Recently, they’ve done better, so will blog about that soon.
LOLEETA
The gangs have killed more people than you know. They kill children and any one else with no remorse,it’s a game to them. I fell no sorrow for them.
Put all the gangs in the forum and let them kill each other. Send these suckers to Iraq see how bad they are, I bet they will piss in their pants.
Police officers risk their life every day fighting these rejects,they go to prison and do the same things after their arrest. Some you can save some to harden and would kill their mothers if they get in the way.
These gangs are definately a grave danger. Try to save the world you will lose your own soul.
The children of the gangs are a product of their enviorment as everyone else is.
The gangs are a war and soon will be out of control as in Mexico, these gangs work together and have no heart, and will take yours. No control without strong tactics.
skull love
well i think the officers of the NELA have a grugde against : the “Avenues” i know for a fact that they dont get the same treatment as others would: ” my son was shot back in feb.21,2010
the officers conducted a search for only 10 to 15 minutes and i never even recieved a call then a month later he did 30 days in county for violation of thev gang in junction ” he was the victim”
And my baby is faceing 25 to life for the shooting in highland park were no one was injured in anyway and he was nowhere near, the officers cant even get things streight and the socal witnesses even said they were tricked by the cops and only that but the evedince just doesnt make any sence , and not only that but the officers also harased the avenues and when they do take some of these boys into custody no reports are made and they are not taken to the station and bookied” But they are taken to the rival hoods and have no choise but to walk through. {hlp & or cp} And i now this becouse they did that to my son a few times
why is it that a badge and uniform gives them the right to be able do drugs,setups and brutaly kill the guys from Ave gang
and yet they continue to work as officers , of course they are not gonna tell you the real reason on why And who really shot officer Escalante im sure there is few stories of his day growing up in cypress park . THIS OFFICERS need to remember the reason why they chose to become lapd they aint no different ,
they need to let my baby go free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lil stoney skull
fuk da pigs this is AVENUES gang we aint ever gonna fall nd thats rite how we even got da L.A. times loving us