Which Way, L.A.?

Has LA Gang Violence Turned into Ethnic Cleansing?

Host:

Jim Sterngold

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Some experts say that gang violence in Los Angeles has turned into a campaign of ethnic cleansing. What's behind the increase in racial violence and why have ongoing attempts at intervention failed so far? Are Latino gangs trying to push black residents out of their neighborhoods? Jim Sterngold guest hosts.

After a brief dip several years ago, gang violence in Los Angeles is rising again. On Monday, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to put a new property tax on the ballot to provide $50 million a year for anti-gang programs. Council members and police have been alarmed by the recent killings of several young blacks for no reason other than race. The killings appear to be the acts of Latino death squads trying to push black residents out of their neighborhoods. Even with the new tax, can the police stop the violence before it spirals out of control? Guest host Jim Sterngold speaks with gang experts, law enforcement and state and local politicians.

Guests:

Tony Rafael: gang expert
Robert Lopez: lieutenant with the Los Angeles Police Department
Mark Ridley-Thomas: State Senator
Janice Hahn: Los Angeles City Councilwoman

Underwriters

Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.

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