Los Angeles Gang Problem

The article “Modern Gangs Have Roots in Racial Turmoil of ‘60s” (Part I, June 26) cites the inter-organization dissent of the Black Panthers and US organizations as being the origin of the “gangs” of the community. Absolutely untrue. The tendency of children to gravitate to their peers is a physiological drive almost on the same scale of other basic human drives.

Such basic human behavior can be seen in all human groups. In an atmosphere of justice and equality, the results will be a harmonious social state. However, in the face of oppression and repressive discrimination, the resultant conditions can understandably be expected to be ones of violence, chaos and counterproductive behavior.

The efforts of the Black Panthers, US organizations, along with scores of other community organizations, to organize and to stand up in the valiant fight against racism and oppression are to be commended. The inter-organizational disputes that developed should be looked at with an eye and ear to the insidiously destructive elements of the FBI’s Cointelpro that was effectively planted into the ‘60s movement. This phenomenon was coldly effective in tearing down the efforts of social reform that numerous groups initiated.

Put the blame where it is--a racist society that effectively denies a people the basic rights of existence and then blames them for the resultant social disorder.

DAIMA WHITE

Compton