Gang problems the don’t officially exist threaten more and more schools
After school activities at Gage Park High School were cancelled for several days in March 2007 because of gang problems in the surrounding community. Above, a garage across the street from the school proclaims the Maniac Latin Disciples (MLDs). The MLDs are part of the “Folks” street gang alliance in Chicago and suburbs, represented by the six-pointed star. Part of the problem at Gage Park is that on of the most important gang border in the community (separating “People” from “Folks” is two blocks north of the school. Once spring arrives, gang fights between the Latin Kings (north of 55th St.) and various branches of the Disciples become more and more common. (Substance photo by George N. Schmidt).During the three weeks prior to the beginning of Spring Vacation in Chicago’s public schools, there was ample evidence of a growing crisis resulting from security problems at dozens of schools. Gage Park High School at one point temporarily cancelled after school programs, including sports. A student was shot in a gang confrontation behind Chicago Vocational Career Academy High School. Gang violence broke out at several south side and west side high schools and at 
For more than 25 years, the “People” street gang alliance (represented by the five pointed star) has claimed Chicago’s Bowen High School (now the “Bowen Campus” with four small schools) as its territory. Nothing has changed during all the years Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has been in charge of law enforcement for the city, first as State’s Attorney of Cook County and since 1987 as Mayor of Chicago. The above graffiti was on the west side of Bowen in late March 2007. facing Marquette Ave. On March 29, police were again called to Bowen because of a major fight inside the building, which has supposedly been improved by “Small Schools.” (Substance photo by George N. Schmidt).nearby elementary schools. Most of the violence inside and around the schools was not reported in the city’s media. Teachers and staff breathed a sigh of relief when the vacation began on March 20, 2007, with few incidents, and the return to school on April 9 was greeted with relief when the temperature was too low to encourage large groupings at schools facing problems from the city’s huge drug gangs. But it was only a matter of time before the warm days began.
