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Deborah Juarez, 17
Heck yes it is easy to get labeled as a gangster or an “associate” to a gangster in Merced! It’s easy to assume a person is associated with a gang by the clothes they wear, how they talk or who they hang out with. In Merced I think about 60 percent of people are somehow, someway associated with gang activity. Just knowing about this makes me and others in We’ced feel scared or angry that they can be in this CalGang database. It’s like finding out your bathroom had spy cameras the entire time. Like even if a person as a friend who is associated with a gang doesn’t mean that they themselves are in a gang.
It is just ridiculous that you can be put in this database without knowing. I think the person who is labeled in this database should know, if they are underage there is even more reason for them to find out! I mean, stop them young, before they can actually get into some serious trouble.
Jesus Perez, 18
In a small community like Merced, it would be easy to end up in the CalGang database. As a young person living in Merced, it would be even easier. I have friends who are associated with gangs but we still hang out every now and then. We share some interests like video games, sports and watching movies. I could be hanging out with them just grabbing some tacos, and bam, I am now labeled as gang-affiliated.
I think parents should be notified if their underage youth are put in the database. This would be help let the parents know that there is a problem, so the parents can search for appropriate solutions. If the parents don’t know that their kids are in gangs, they might find out the day one of them gets hurt or in trouble.
Austin Corpuz, 18
I believe it could be easy to end up in the CalGang database living in Merced as a young person, compared to another city like Irvine or Santa Barbara. Merced is infamous for its poverty and gang activities. It’s sad to note that everyone here knows at least one person involved with gangs. With lack of transparency in the CalGang database, it’s hard for the average person here to know if they are on it, so they may be able to do something about it. Does the public know what are the criteria for someone to be put in the database? Is just being seen with a gangster reason to be put in the database? With this in mind, I fear that it is easy for the youth living in Merced to be mistaken for gangsters.
If youth are put in the database, it should be a right for parents to know so there can be action on their part to remedy the situation. Why should this information be kept from the public?
Kalvin Saelee, 17
As a young resident of Merced, I think it would be easy to end up in the CalGang database. Every kid, teenager or young adult is still looking for their identity, so everyone wants to fit in and be cool. The trend can be a certain kind of clothes and that may have them looking like they are a gang member. On top of that, friends and family are in gangs, so just we don’t get put in the database we are supposed to ignore our friends and family? I don’t think so!
I think that notifying parents isn’t enough. If you’re over 18 and trying to get a job or a house, the police can share that information with those kinds of representatives. If that information can be shared with other people, why not us?
