Local News in Brief : Parents Attend Anti-Gang Meeting
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About 50 parents attended an anti-gang meeting Tuesday night to discuss ways to bring an end to gang violence after a bloody weekend in the Harbor area, during which three people were killed.
Harbor Division police officials, who organized the meeting at the Harbor police station, its intent was to reach Wilmington and Harbor City gang members through their parents. But many of the parents who attended said their children were not involved with gangs.
Norma Ruiz, 30, who lives in the Rancho San Pedro housing project, said she attended the meeting because “there’s been too many killings. . . . My child is only 11. How long is it going to be before (gangs) get to my child?”
Deputy Chief William Rathburn said the meeting was another approach to the gang problem. “Even with young adults, parents can have an effect on modifying their behavior,” he said.
Although no regular meetings were planned, Harbor Division police hope the meeting will open a dialogue between parents and police, said Lt. Mike Melton.
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