alle 18, which contributed to the increase in gang violence7. El Salvador was named the “deadliest peace-time country” in the world in March of 2014, having about 15 deaths a day. Deaths for the entire month added up to 3517. As of 2015, there are an estimated 7 deaths a day because of gang violence6.
Most of the violence that is happening is between he two gangs, Calle 18 and Mara Salvatrucha, and gangs against the government, claiming that they are “freedom fighters”3 from a government that lets their citizens be among the poorest in Central America8. They convey messages by bombing government buildings, killing government officials, to the point where the government died transportation system had to be shut down because of so many raids and bombings made it so that it was really dangerous3.
Membership
There are about 30,000-50,000 members worldwide, mostly in the Americas, and many youths join. Initiation is brutal, the recruits are beaten near death, and sometimes they do end up dying7.
Many youths joined gangs because of peer pressure and the lack of jobs in El Salvador. Many youths join gangs because that is the best source of income for their families9. The gang …show more content…
Innocent citizens have anxiety, and there is widespread and constant fear throughout the entire country related to who is and who is not a member of gangs. Civilians are mostly scared of children. Children brought up in society can be paid as “lookouts” who inform older gang members of suspicious activity in their absence, which can lead to the suspicious person being pursued by gang members later on. Cultural Norms have changed---people have to be up to date with the newest gang fads. For example, it is known that only gang members have their car lights on in certain areas, and innocent civilians may not be aware, and get murdered in an area they didn’t know that they couldn’t perform a certain action without being affiliated with the opposing
Most of the violence that is happening is between he two gangs, Calle 18 and Mara Salvatrucha, and gangs against the government, claiming that they are “freedom fighters”3 from a government that lets their citizens be among the poorest in Central America8. They convey messages by bombing government buildings, killing government officials, to the point where the government died transportation system had to be shut down because of so many raids and bombings made it so that it was really dangerous3.
Membership
There are about 30,000-50,000 members worldwide, mostly in the Americas, and many youths join. Initiation is brutal, the recruits are beaten near death, and sometimes they do end up dying7.
Many youths joined gangs because of peer pressure and the lack of jobs in El Salvador. Many youths join gangs because that is the best source of income for their families9. The gang …show more content…
Innocent citizens have anxiety, and there is widespread and constant fear throughout the entire country related to who is and who is not a member of gangs. Civilians are mostly scared of children. Children brought up in society can be paid as “lookouts” who inform older gang members of suspicious activity in their absence, which can lead to the suspicious person being pursued by gang members later on. Cultural Norms have changed---people have to be up to date with the newest gang fads. For example, it is known that only gang members have their car lights on in certain areas, and innocent civilians may not be aware, and get murdered in an area they didn’t know that they couldn’t perform a certain action without being affiliated with the opposing