This STREET KNOWLEDGE show... aired on September 17 1995 To comment or make suggestions about Street Knowledge.. either email us or call the Street Knowledge hotline at 415-391-1061 The Proliferation and Impact of Latino Gangs

Here is a summary of what the guest who appeared on KMEL's Street Knowledge had to say:

Art Blajos (ex member of the Mexican Mafia and also author of the book: Blood In Blood Out and also affiliated with the church organization Victory Outreach) - He said he had become a gang member because he felt like he need to belong to something. He said that there is a powerful drive and urge that brings people into gangs. He said that he believes that gangs are created for protection. He said that there is help for those that want it. Victory Outreach had a conference in Long Beach about a month ago where 16,000 ex gang members attended.

Kid Frost (Rapper) - He said on the contrary to rumors that he is not a gang member, but he also said he is very in tuned with the Latino gangs in Los Angeles. He believes that people, today, need a little more respect for each other. He said that communication is important and that violence is the easy answer. He said that Latino gang members need to gain a knowledge of self and stop racial genocide. He stressed that people need to be strong mentally as well as physically. He also said that safe sex is very important.

Donald Garcia (ex member of the Mexican Mafia he is also affiliated with Victory Outreach) - He said that the Nortuenos and Surenos started in the pennititary for protection. He believes that rival gangs are the result of a lack of communication.

Lynette Duarte (affiliated with Barrio Unidos) - She said that kids that are rather well off perpetrate as gang members for a sense of identity. She also stressed the need for people to return to their spiritual base.

T-Bone (rapper also ex gang member) - He said that artist are becoming repetitive when they rap about killing people and having a whole slew of women. He said that his raps are about finding the answer to the gang violence problem. He said that the answer is God.

Robert Loera (ex member of the Mexican Mafia and is now affiliated with Victory Outreach) - He said there is hope for gang members in God.

Alejandro Vilchez (affiliated with Barrio Unidos) - He said that Latinos are stereotyped in the media as criminals, and when newly arrived immigrants see this depiction they believe that this is the way they should act. He said that there is a need for positive role models in the Latino community. He said that people should not have the attitude that there will never be peace because with that attitude there never will be peace.

Maggie Diaz-Gonzalez (affiliated with Real Alternatives Program) - She said that there is a lack of comfort in the family, and that is why gang members turn to the streets and their friends for comfort.

Steve Vigil (affiliated with Barrio Unidos) - He said that the gang scene is, usually, comprised of new arrivals fighting against the more established gangs. He also stressed a need for Latinos to gain control of their communities.