1. Gang Violence
By Monica Mattei

2. Gang Violence
Gang Violence, a part of the Critical Concern of Nonviolence of the Sisters of Mercy, relates to the violent actions of a group of people. These actions can be committed against innocent people or other competing gangs.
Gang violence is a serious concern present throughout the world. It is commonly found in poor communities, cities, and among the youth.
Gang violence is especially present in Latin America, where crime and corruption are the norm.

3. Gang Violence Where We Live
In recent months, starting in September, Brentwood has suffered the tragic results of gang violence. Since September, 5 teenagers have been killed. Their deaths have been associated with the MS-13 gang, a gang rooted in Central America and Los Angeles.
The recent deaths in Brentwood sparked a controversial issue, especially since these events occurred so close to the 2016 presidential election.
The events were heart-wrenching and caused fear throughout the community. However, the people of Brentwood have continued to urge for peace in their neighborhood. They are working together to make their home a safer place.

4. Gang Violence Today
Some of the gang violence present in Latin America is spreading to the US. This can be related the mass migration of Latin American immigrants to the United States in recent years.
The MS-13 gang, the suspects in the Brentwood cases, comes from Central America and is an “extremely violent gang faction”. Their gang has seen a growth in new members due to political turmoil in the native countries.
At the same time, gang violence is an issue for those who are forced to flee their native countries. The mass migration to the US Border can also be due to gang violence and the search for a better life, especially among children.
There has been a push to increase funding to provide shelter for the displaced children, who are also known as Unaccompanied Alien Children.

5. Work Of Mercy
An appropriate work of mercy that can be applied to gang violence is instruct the ignorant. This work of mercy relates to:
People Living in Poor Social Conditions
People Who Feel Like They Have No Choice
People Who Want a Sense of Belonging
Youth

6. People Living in Poor Social Conditions
People who live in poor social conditions are desperate for change. Their government is not working and they are surrounded by inequality.
This is the major cause of gang violence in the Northern Triangle, Central American countries including El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
These countries experience political turmoil and to many, it seems like the system is working against them. The unsatisfied people in these countries, especially youth, want to flee the unfair economic system and the exclusion from government.

7. People Who Feel Like They Have No Choice
People who think that they have no other option but to join a gang feel trapped. These people may have been threatened or pressured by friends or neighbors. They feel that it is is more dangerous to not join a gang than it is to join a gang.
For these people, we must educate them about the dangers the gang causes and better opportunities to better themselves and to take control of their lives.
While the gang has honorable qualities such as loyalty, this does not condone the actions and violence they cause. The gang leads to a life of crime and violence for yourself and your loved ones.
Gangs divide and polarize society, which makes progress towards more economic benefits and a fair government mostly impossible.

8. People Who Want a Sense of Belonging
People who want a sense of belonging feel that a gang will provide them with a sense of community and trust that a family could not.
Many people who grew up in broken homes or had a negative childhood may be attracted to gangs. A gang provides a family unit that they did not have when they were younger.

9. Youth
An abusive childhood can strongly contribute to the urge to join a gang. Youth search for a sense of belonging and community in their lives.
Youth may want to join a gang because they think it is “cool”. They are influenced by the media which depicts gang members as the heroes while dramatizing the terrible things they do.
Youth may also be influenced by friends or family members.

10. Integral Ecology
Pope Francis discussed the concept of integral ecology in his papal encyclical, Laudato Si.
Integral ecology is a study of ecology that reflects on and includes many different perspectives and aspects related to the environment.
Pope Francis urges us to find a solution to climate change and protecting the environment that includes “combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, at the same time protecting nature”.

11. Pope Francis on Gang Violence
Pope Francis is able to have unique perspective as the first pope from a Latin American country that initiated the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Pope Francis urges us to use a similar perspective when addressing gang violence. He urges us to look beyond punishment and to also think of the victims of gang violence, to avoid joining gangs altogether, and to show mercy and compassion towards gang members.

12. Pope Francis on Gang Violence
Pope Francis has spoken out about gang violence to many different people.
During his visit to South America, he spoke with the families of victims of gang violence in Michoacan.
He spoke to political leaders to take more action in order to avoid more violence.

13. Pope Francis on Gang Violence
Pope Francis called the refugee crisis present in Central America a “human tragedy” due to the harsh and difficult situation they are forced to endure.
Pope Francis also wants us to show mercy to those who feel gangs are their only option. He says many people join gangs to avoid the political turmoil that takes advantage of the poor.
Pope Francis also says youth are common to join gangs because they can be easily influenced by the injustice that they witness everyday.

14. Gang Violence in Today’s Culture
Today’s society overlooks the violence witnessed in our everyday lives. This violence can be seen as mere anger and hatred for another person.
Today’s culture glorifies violence. Movies, video games, and other forms of entertainment are seen as necessary in order for the audience to be interested.
A study states that children witness “8,000 murders and 100,000 other acts of violence on television before they leave elementary school”. Many movies also depict gangs portray the glorious life of a mobster. Many fail to show the true destruction it causes to the individual and the community.
“Proclaim, with all the conviction of my faith in Christ and with an awareness of my mission, that violence is evil, that violence is unacceptable as a solution to problems, that violence is unworthy... Violence is a lie, for it goes against the truth of our faith, the truth of our humanity”
-Saint John Paul II

15. Solutions
There are many solutions being used to lessen and eliminate gang violence in cities throughout the world. These include:
Programs to Identify the Warning Signs in Youth
Programs to Educate about Gang Violence
Programs that Prevent Violence
The Local Community

16. Warning Signs in Youth
Many programs deal with identifying signs in children that can contribute to gang membership. These signs include violence and seclusion.
Two of these programs are The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Youth Gang Strategic Planning Tool.

17. Education About Gang Violence
Many schools, government programs, and organization have started programs that educate about gang violence. It educates young people about a life of crime and its negative effects that will last their whole lifetime.
Two examples of these programs are The Gang Resistance Education And Training program and The Preventive Treatment Program.

18. Violence Prevention
One of the major ways to prevent gang membership is to decrease violence in younger people. Learning the value of nonviolence at a young age can prevent a life of crime.
Two of the programs that are involved in violence prevention are The Aggression Replacement Training and CeaseFire–Chicago.
Another program called Save Our Sons and Daughters in Detroit has decreased child deaths or shootings each year since it was started in 1987.

19. The Local Community
The community can contribute by providing training for teachers and parents, strengthening families, lessening punishments for students, and instituting supervision of youth. We can all participate in these programs and look out for each other in our communities. Helping someone avoid gang violence strengthens the whole community.
For example, the diocese in Baltimore has given food and housing to migrants who have fled gang violence in their native countries. This action shows extreme kindness and mercy.

20. My Opinion…
I think gang violence is a tragic situation. All of those impacted by gang violence are hurt or prevented to reach their full potential in some way. Gang violence is also a complicated issue with many different components, which makes it even more difficult to solve.
I think that the programs stated before were effective, but they mostly focus on prevention and not on helping those who have left gangs. Many may find help from local law enforcement, but the violence learned in gangs can cause a life of crime.
It is important to allow these people to be accepted
into the community and to feel a sense of belonging.