Santa Fe residents are struggling to try to prevent gangs from reaching out to their children. Sandra Baltazar Martinez of the New Mexican writes about a community meeting that drew more than 60 residents concerned about gang recruitment that has reached down to the elementary level.
“At a local elementary school, an 8-year-old recently walked onto the campus with the gang sign SUR13 marked on his arm,” Martinez reports. The meeting drew youth, police, business leaders, and concerned parents. The kids that were present asked that adults listen more to their sides of the story when they get in trouble, and police officers urged adults to be role models and give their time, even if it’s not their kid.
The most serious mistake would be to pretend gang problems aren’t happening in Santa Fe, one social worker told the crowd.
