Art and the Police in Asheville

Gangs in Asheville or are they just Taggers?

An APD document distributed to the press defines a gang as "a group or association of three or more persons who may have a common identifying sign, symbol or name and who individually or collectively engage in, or have engaged in, criminal activity which creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation."

Asheville is home to some 15 to 20 such groups. But by that definition there's little difference between a gang and a group pretending to be one or a group of friends just hanging out on patton.

"A lot of people want to say what we have are wannabes." But "a wannabe is a 'gonnabe,' and wannabes are more dangerous than the real gang member, because they've got something to prove."

Gangs in Buncombe and Henderson counties, police say, come in many different forms. There are African-American gangs, Salvadoran gangs, biker gangs, white supremacists and more. Some are affiliated with national groups, while others merely claim to be.

This just made me think a little and at the same time it made me mad. You know if APD would leave the kids on Patton alone and patrolled the city the guys running up and down Haywood Rd wouldn't have time to spray paint MOMS on everything in west Asheville. I'm so Sick of driving down the street and seeing this crap on everything while three to five APD cars sit on Patton Ave. doing nothing..... The question was asked by another blogger What does MOMS stand for the answer is on its way.