Art from the Beat Within by Michael Orozcor

San Francisco has launched a new Civil Gang Injunction in an effort to tighten it’s grip on the gang violence that has been overwhelming the SF community, particularly targeting neighborhoods like the Mission, Western Addition, and the Bay View. So what does this “Civil Injunction” mean anyway?
This injunction is basically an attempt by city officials at stopping the crime and violence by going after members and presumed members and labeling them a public nuisance when gathered as a group. Already thought of as a success in Los Angeles, the gang injunctions involve “civil lawsuits against gang members to prohibit conduct that constitutes a public nuisance, including loitering, carrying pagers, blocking traffic, vandalism, trespassing, conduct associated with drug trafficking and a variety of other activities”. If violated, the injunctions, which are court ordered, can lead to civil penalties and some could lead to time behind bars.
This appears to be a good strategy on paper but it is hardly the solution to the “gang problem” in San Francisco or elsewhere for that matter. As a social worker in the Mission neighborhood, I know and collaborate with grassroots organizations focusing on gang and violence prevention. Many of these organizations are run by ex-gang members who use their experience to reach out and educate the youth in their own communities to stay away from gang violence and crime. Although it is not specified, the injunctions could very well affect gatherings by these organizations and the youth participating with them.
Another concern is that the injunctions also seem to target Latino and African American communities and fail to put pressure on other neighborhoods, such as China Town, Richmond, and the Sunset to name a few, where gangs continue business as usual. Since the injunctions prohibit and penalize public gatherings, they are also preventing the members of these communities to be in public spaces in a group. What will this mean for community celebrations and family gatherings in parks or neighborhood streets? Will everyone just have to hide in their homes? Don’t get me wrong, I am not in support of gangs but the solution is not in continuing to penalize and criminalize young people or their communities. These injunctions are controversial and are not headed for success because they oppress communities instead of uplifting them.