Thread: CA: Store Employees Attacked For Wearing Red

Store Employees Attacked For Wearing RedUniform Sparks Gang-Related Assault
By Vic Lee
May 28 - KGO - It was simply the color of their clothes. Three people attacked in Petaluma. The small town in Sonoma County gets a taste of gangland insanity. And there have been similar assaults in the town where gangs have a growing presence.

The beating attack happened Friday evening at the Washington Square Shopping Center.

ABC7 has learned that at least one of the victims is an employee of Staples, who was just outside the store on a break.

Police found the other two victims nearby.

Lt. Mike Cook, Petaluma Police: "As best as we can determine they were not gang members and they were not involved in any confrontation and were challenged solely on the clothing that they were wearing."

The Staples employee was wearing the store's trademark red polo shirt -- the same color of the notorious Latino gang Norteños.

Police later arrested two 17-year-olds as the suspected attackers. Investigators say they may belong to the Sureños, a rival gang whose color is blue.

Local teens tell us they've witnessed fights over the rival gang colors.

Geovi Moore, middle school student: "Just because one guy was wearing one red t-shirt and there was a fight because of it."

Angelica Sanchez, middle school student: "You can't wear blue or red in town or whatever."

Shane Marble, high school student: "Some skater got hit in the head and had to be airlifted out of there for wearing red."

ABC7's Vic Lee: "Just for wearing a color?"

Shane Marble: "Yeah."

Police here say they're trying to deal with the rising gang violence.

Lt. Mike Cook: "It runs the gamut from assaults, criminal assaults, drug activity, graffiti, vandalism."

The gang problem in Sonoma County escalated in the early 90's. In 1991, there were two so-called certified gangs here, or groups that fit the guidelines of what law enforcement defined as gangs. Four years later, in 1995, there were 17 certified gangs here.

The county has responded by forming an anti-gang task force.

Lt. Mike Cook: "We've actually added an additional officer to our street crimes unit who concentrates solely on gang issues and prosecuting gang related problems."

Petaluma police are also focusing on gang prevention by speaking to students on school campuses.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sectio ... id=5347234

ABC7's Vic Lee: "Just for wearing a color?"

A reporter in California that doesn't know people have been killed for wearing the wrong color?

The reporter must me living under a rock. Even people who don't have kids know that especially in areas where you have gang problems.