Gang-related activity in the city is spilling into Columbus Municipal School District hallways and classrooms, Superintendent Cherie Labat told school board members Monday evening.
Labat blamed such activity for 15 discipline referrals since August at the high school and middle school. She didn’t specify what she is calling “gang-related” behavior, but she has enlisted reinforcements to help her faculty recognize the warning signs.
Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton recently led a “gang symposium” for principals and other administrators to identify early gang detection signs in at-risk students, Labat said. He will lead a followup session in January.
“It was eye-opening to our principals to look at some of the behaviors related to the community that comes out from the community into the school district,” Labat said. “We are going to have a follow up … to discuss other issues related to gang activity and drug activity in the community and how that filters into the district and how we can moderate those types of behavior.”
Labat said she approached Shelton for help when she started to notice more gang-related activity at the schools. Shelton also is working with Labat to create a mentorship program slated to start in February.
Labat will pull 25 male students each from the elementary, middle and high school levels who are deemed “at-risk” for gang activity. Those 75 young men will be mentored by 25 Columbus police officers, firefighters, sorority and fraternity members.
After that program starts, Shelton hopes to provide a similar mentorship network for at-risk female students.
“Some of the issues we’re dealing with are just tough,” Labat said. “We are being really proactive with some of the gang activity information in the city of Columbus. Chief Shelton has been supportive in getting us resources we need to deal with some of the issues.”
What are the signs?
Shelton told The Dispatch there is no discernible “gang activity” in Columbus, and the symposium and subsequent mentorship programs are meant to keep gangs from becoming a problem.
However, he is aware there is gang membership in the city, and he has begun seeing local young people identify as “Vice Lords” or “Black Gangster Disciples.”
“Being in a gang in itself, it’s not illegal,” Shelton said. “… We target the illegal activity and not the organization. When it comes down to the criminal activity, we’re not seeing drive-by shootings or turf wars. We’re just not seeing that.
“The school has policies that you can’t wear gang paraphernalia to school,” he added. “Now, they’re wearing clothing that represents that, and unless you’re a part of that culture you won’t understand that. … We are trying to prevent any more children from joining or creating a new gang. We don’t want them to emulate gangs or gang-related activity for protection, excitement or fun.”
Specifically, Shelton said Louis Vuitton clothing often is associated with the Vice Lords, while Georgia Bulldogs apparel can indicate allegiance to Black Gangster Disciples.
With the mentorship program, Shelton said he is trying to make young men ambassadors within the district.
By mentoring students who are likely to identify as a gang member, Shelton said, the school and community will both benefit.
“We can make our community safer and give our children a better chance of having a future,” Shelton said. “We know what violence looks like in our country, and we want to reduce that among our children. Education plays a very important part of keeping kids safe and out of gangs. With education, they have the ability to reason and make rational decisions.”
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