Unfortunately, gang violence has been a part of many communities; families live at home with fear of going out of the house or letting their children play outside after dark.

The police do their best to control gang activity, but still gangs run amok destroying property, tagging, and making war against other gangs., trying to spread their territory. In a survey of 100 students in Morton East High School 69 students think that gangs are decreasing while 31 students thinks that they will get worse. Most students don’t know what gangs were in their community.

“I don’t know any gangs,” senior Rosa Sanchez said.

Many times gang members are people that have trouble at school or don’t have a home to care for them. According to National Institute of Justice (crimesolutions.gov) approximately 23% of students ages 12-18 are involved in gang activity.

“There should be more youth groups for kids so they don’t end up in gangs and have a place to go,” junior Estefania Espinoza said.

Some of the people that are in gangs have families that they have to support for and care for. They make gang violence a living for them to survive in this economy. Most jobs in Cicero judge people by their appearance or experience and don’t get a job. The only best thing for them is to resort to violence to help their families.

“In a sense, they do mess up their life, but they accept it if it’s to help them,” junior Angel Zamuelo said.

There are many gangs in our community that have a territory somewhere around us or right in our backyards. Many people have not been safe for this past 14 years. Many of these gangs are spreading their territory towards Chicago near Cicero.

“One gang has their territory next to my house,” sophomore Christopher Tellez said.

“Some of the people that are in gangs have families that they have to support for and care for. They make gang violence a living for them to survive in this economy. Most jobs in Cicero judge people by their appearance or experience and don’t get a job. The only best thing for them is to resort to violence to help their families,” Carlos Gonzales said.