Critical Resistance Releases a Report on Oakland Gang Injunctions

From their website:

In February 2009, Oakland City Attorney John Russo went public with plans to file gang injunctions throughout the city. More than a year later, with one injunction temporarily in place, another proposed, and the threat of up to 11 more to follow, there is widespread and rapidly mounting opposition to the injunctions citywide.

We oppose gang injunctions because they are ineffective, costly, and harmful to our communities.

Our findings conclude that civil gang injunctions are an inappropriate method for addressing violence in our communities. Injunctions lead to increased police harassment and brutality, decreased community unity, increased alienation and racial profiling, and gentrification. They also divert a tremendous amount of resources from vital programs that could build strong, stable and healthy communities. There are many viable alternatives to gang injunctions that will reduce violence and help build up, rather than tear apart our communities. They include after-school programs and youth centers, alternative ways of dealing with harm, job training and placement programs, drug and alcohol treatment, counseling services, affordable housing, and reentry support and services for people coming home from prison.

Please click here to download the full report!