Prince George, B.C.- With a prayer from the Lheidli T’enneh and a call for all in attendance to   have compassion and empathy for those who are in gangs “These people are someone’s brother, someone’s son, a daughter, a mother, a  sister”, the anti gang summit got underway in Prince George.

 

Some 220 people are attending the summit that will carry on today and tomorrow.

 

This is not a new issue for the City of Prince George, says Mayor Dan Rogers, who reflected on the establishment of the Renegades club house. He said at the time the city’s bylaw  enforcement officers cited the clubhouse fence and hedging to be out of compliance. He says he recalls  the club’s solicitor coming to Council and making the point that  they had checked the homes of the Mayor and Council members, and it was their opinion the bylaws were not being applied equally. “The message was received, they were watching. It was something I had to think about with small children at home, but I decided I will not be intimidated.   I will not base my actions on fear, we must move forward.”

 

RCMP Superintendant Brenda Butterworth-Carr says the work to battle gangs has to go beyond enforcement.

Sergeant Shinder Kirk of the uniformed gang task force,   says Prince George has a problem “You also have a golden opportunity. If you get involved with youth you will make a difference, if you don’t you will fail, I guarantee it.”

 

Sgt Kirk   told those in attendance there is a new group called MS 13, from Central America which has now surfaced in Vancouver. “This gang is ultra violent, they make what you have seen look like child’s play. This is a gang that will get on a bus in Central  America and shoot everyone, mothers, children, everyone, just to make a statement. They are in Vancouver.”

 

The two day summit will feature an open forum this evening. That forum is free to interested members of the public. It will get underway at 6:30 at the Ramada.