Injunction Against 18th Street Gang

Re “Court Order Against L.A. Gang Expanded,� Aug. 30:

King George decrees the Intolerable Acts. But this time it’s Judge William C. Beverly and the L.A. district attorney’s crusade against the gang problem . With a stroke of the pen, the judge took away these individuals’ most basic right, freedom of assemblage. And then to do this without the benefit of counsel is outrageous.

Yes, there is a problem, but police tactics in a free society are not the answer. Maybe we can start by realizing that the schools that educate these children have no money for books, air conditioning or any materials needed for a basic education. Maybe that’s where apathy lies.

GARY ESCOTO

Monterey Park

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The first thing I saw as I glanced at the Metro section Aug. 30: a picture of two 18th Street gang members leaving court--throwing gang signs! Displaying this photograph for all of Los Angeles and the nation to see allows the gang to spuriously show themselves as victorious. As they emerge from the courthouse, they deliberately flaunt their gang membership and their opposition to the injunction forbidding them to congregate in the Pico-Union district.

The 18th Street gang has received free publicity from The Times. Higher visibility means increased status in the gang hierarchy. This is part of the gang’s attractiveness to new recruits as well as confirming to members just how powerful they are. Gang violence is a serious and complex problem. Printing pictures like this one only contributes to the problem.

LISETTE RABINOW

Culver City