More than 40 San Juan Capistrano, Calif. residents came out Jan. 11 for a candlelight vigil against the preliminary
gang injunction now in affect in southern Orange County. The vigil was organized by SJC Against the Gang Injunction and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
The small community has seen an increased presence of sheriffs’ deputies patrolling in mostly Latino neighborhoods. Demonstrators held candles, placards reading “Stop racism,” and chanted throughout the cold night. Many participants left work early and skipped dinner to attend. Cars honked in support as they drove by.
San Juan Capistrano and nearby San Clemente are under a racist, unconstitutional gang injunction that does nothing to get to the root causes of gangs. Gang injunctions do not deter crime. They do not provide a way out of “gang life,” as the district attorney’s office has falsely claimed. The only thing these injunctions do is criminalize Latino youth.
