I was an MS-13 gang member. Here's how I got out. | Gerardo Lopez | TEDxMileHigh
TLDRThe speaker, a former MS-13 gang member, shares his personal journey from joining the gang at age 14 due to a sense of belonging and protection, to the realization of the destructive path he was on. He narrates the challenges of leaving the gang, the support he received from a gang intervention group, and his eventual freedom from gang life. Now, as the executive director of Homies Unidos, he works to prevent gang violence and help others escape the cycle of crime, emphasizing the importance of community support for those trying to leave gangs.
Takeaways
- ๐ The formation of MS-13 was rooted in the violence and trauma of El Salvador's civil war and the subsequent bullying faced by Salvadoran refugees in the U.S.
- ๐ฆ Nelson, a Salvadoran refugee, became a symbol of gang culture after being deported back to El Salvador, influencing others to join MS-13.
- ๐ The speaker grew up in an MS-13 territory and, despite initial reluctance, joined the gang at the age of 14 due to feelings of isolation and admiration for gang members.
- ๐ซ The speaker's life in the gang brought immediate relief from the fear of violence but quickly led to regret as he became a target for rival gangs.
- ๐ The allure of gang life, such as respect and a sense of belonging, was strong but ultimately overshadowed by the negative consequences and the desire to leave.
- ๐ค The speaker found a way out of the gang through a gang intervention group led by a former MS-13 member, which provided a supportive community.
- ๐จ Even after leaving the gang, the speaker faced challenges such as police harassment during the LAPD's Rampart CRASH scandal.
- ๐ซ The speaker pursued education and worked in youth detention facilities to help others escape gang life, emphasizing the importance of support systems.
- ๐ Facing a false accusation and potential 48-year sentence, the speaker successfully defended himself in court, leading to his charges being dropped.
- ๐จโ๐งโ๐ฆ The importance of family involvement and community engagement in preventing gang involvement and supporting those who want to leave.
- ๐ The speaker's work with Homies Unidos in Denver shows that with the right support and empowerment, it's possible to help individuals break free from the cycle of gang violence.
Q & A
What was the historical context that led to the formation of MS-13?
-MS-13 was formed in the 1980s by Salvadorean refugees in Los Angeles, who were victims of bullying due to their different accents and cultures. They took the violence and anger they experienced and formed their own group as a form of protection and identity.
Why was Nelson, one of the original members of MS-13, deported from the United States?
-In 1996, the US government deported thousands of immigrants, and Nelson was one of them. He had grown up in the US and was heavily influenced by American culture, which made it difficult for him to fit into El Salvador's culture upon his return.
How did Nelson's return to El Salvador impact the younger generation there?
-Nelson's return to El Salvador introduced the country to its first-ever gang problem. The young Salvadorians were in awe of him and wanted to emulate his Americanized gang lifestyle, leading many to join MS-13.
What personal circumstances led the narrator to join MS-13 at the age of 14?
-The narrator joined MS-13 because he felt a lack of respect, power, and pride in his life. He was influenced by the presence of Nelson, who had these qualities, and he wanted to be revered in his own neighborhood like Nelson was.
Why did the narrator feel relief after joining MS-13?
-After joining MS-13, the narrator felt relief because he was no longer alone and felt a sense of belonging. He could walk around with his head held high, knowing that he was part of a group that was recognized and respected in the neighborhood.
What were the consequences of the narrator choosing MS-13 over a rival gang?
-The rival gang members found out about the narrator's decision to join MS-13 and became furious, making him a target overnight. This put him in constant danger and created a cycle of violence and retaliation.
How did the narrator's perspective on his gang life change over time?
-Over time, the narrator became tired of the violence, the impact on his family, and the funerals of his friends. His blind love for MS-13 started to fade, and he began to question the worth of spending the rest of his life in jail.
What was the turning point for the narrator in his decision to leave MS-13?
-The turning point was when Alex Sanchez, a former MS-13 gang member, approached the narrator and invited him to join a gang intervention group. This provided the narrator with a way out and a chance to change his life.
What challenges did the narrator face after leaving MS-13?
-After leaving MS-13, the narrator faced challenges such as being searched without warrants, stopped on baseless charges, and beaten by the Los Angeles Police Department. He also faced a false accusation of starting MS-13 criminal activities in Colorado, which led to a federal arrest and a possible 48-year sentence.
What is the narrator's current role in helping others leave gangs?
-The narrator is now the executive director of Homies Unidos, a gang violence prevention and intervention organization in Denver. The organization empowers youth and their families to become advocates of social change and provides support to help them stay out of gangs.
What is the key message the narrator wants to convey about helping individuals leave gangs?
-The key message is that society needs to create an environment that supports individuals every step of the way when they leave gangs. This includes providing a support system, opportunities for education and employment, and acceptance into communities.
Outlines
๐ The Origins and Personal Struggle with MS-13
The first paragraph introduces the story of a former MS-13 gang member, who begins by acknowledging the gang's negative reputation as murderers and criminals, which he confirms due to his past membership. He takes us back to El Salvador in the 1980s, describing the civil war's impact, which led to many refugees, including a young boy named Nelson, seeking refuge in Los Angeles. Nelson's experience of bullying due to cultural differences at school eventually resulted in the formation of MS-13. The story fast forwards to the่ฎฒ่ฟฐ่ becoming a part of MS-13 himself, influenced by the gang's allure and the lack of safety in his neighborhood. This section ends with the realization of the danger he's put himself into after joining the gang.
๐ The Entanglement and Desperation to Leave MS-13
In the second paragraph, the narrator delves into the complexities of being in a gang, likening it to a marriage that's hard to escape. He discusses the initial relief he felt after joining MS-13, the regret that soon followed, and the challenges of being a target due to rival gang tensions. The paragraph also highlights the emotional turmoil of committing crimes, the impact on his family, and the gradual fading of his loyalty to the gang. A pivotal moment occurs when he encounters Alex Sanchez, a reformed MS-13 member who offers him a way out through a gang intervention group. This leads to a transformative journey where he begins to distance himself from the gang's influence.
๐ก The Aftermath of Leaving MS-13 and Societal Challenges
The third paragraph details the narrator's post-gang life, focusing on the challenges of reintegration into society and the lack of support systems for former gang members. Despite leaving MS-13, he faced legal troubles, including a baseless arrest and a potential 48-year sentence. Through self-advocacy, he managed to get his charges dropped. The paragraph underscores the societal barriers that hinder the successful reintegration of ex-gang members, such as judgment and a lack of opportunities, and highlights the high rate of failure for those without support. The narrator's work with Homies Unidos in Denver is introduced as a solution to provide the necessary support and empowerment for youth to prevent gang involvement and help those who want to leave gangs.
๐ค The Importance of Community and Support for Ex-Gang Members
The final paragraph emphasizes the collective role society must play in supporting individuals who wish to leave gangs and reintegrate into society. It stresses the importance of inclusion, providing opportunities for education, employment, and community acceptance. The narrator poses thought-provoking questions about societal willingness to accept ex-gang members and the need to move beyond punitive measures to create a supportive environment. The story concludes with a call to action, urging the audience to consider their own potential role in facilitating the positive transformation of former gang members.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กMS-13
๐กGang initiation
๐กCriminal justice
๐กGang intervention
๐กRampart CRASH scandal
๐กSelf-esteem
๐กSocial change
๐กRestorative justice
๐กDisconnection
๐กSupport system
๐กReintegration
Highlights
The speaker was a former member of MS-13, sharing his personal journey of joining and eventually leaving the gang.
El Salvador in the 1980s was plagued by a brutal civil war, leading to thousands of refugees seeking asylum in the United States.
Nelson, a Salvadorean refugee, settled in Los Angeles and later became a founding member of MS-13 after facing bullying.
MS-13 originated as a group formed by bullied Salvadorean kids to protect themselves, which later transformed into a violent gang.
In 1996, the US deported thousands of immigrants, including Nelson, who had become a symbol of gang culture.
Upon Nelson's return to El Salvador, his gang attire and tattoos made him an object of admiration among the youth, leading to an increase in gang membership.
The speaker, born in L.A. to Mexican and Argentinian parents, grew up in an MS-13 territory and faced constant threats from gangs.
At the age of 14, influenced by the perceived power and respect of gang members, the speaker decided to join MS-13.
After joining MS-13, the speaker initially felt relief and a sense of belonging but soon regretted his decision as he became a target of rival gangs.
The speaker's first MS-13 tattoo symbolized his loyalty to the gang but also caused concern about his mother's reaction.
Involvement in assaults and robberies led to the speaker's incarceration as a juvenile and increased his reputation within the gang.
The speaker questioned the worth of his life spent in jail and the impact of his actions on his family, leading to a desire to leave the gang.
Alex Sanchez, a reformed MS-13 member, approached the speaker with an opportunity to join a gang intervention group.
The speaker's participation in the gang intervention group helped him to leave the gang and find a sense of respect, power, and pride without violence.
Despite leaving the gang, the speaker faced challenges from the Los Angeles Police Department during the Rampart CRASH scandal.
The speaker moved to Colorado to pursue a degree in criminal justice and work as a youth counselor to help others exit gangs.
He was falsely accused of criminal activities and faced a potential 48-year sentence before successfully defending himself in court.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment for those leaving gangs to succeed and establish Homies Unidos in Denver.
Homies Unidos empowers youth and families to become advocates for social change, providing a comprehensive support system.
The story of David, who overcame gang involvement with the help of Homies Unidos, illustrates the organization's impact on individual lives.
The speaker calls for societal change in perception and treatment of former gang members to break the cycle of violence and reintegration.
The need forๅ ๅฎนๆง and opportunities for former gang members to reintegrate into society through education, employment, and community acceptance.
Transcripts
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