I'm not going to lie to you. What I saw tonight was very disturbing. As I was walking along the lake front near Loyola Park tonight around 7:15 p.m., a group of 12 Gangster Disciple's were walking north. They were closely being followed by two Chicago Police Department bike patrol officers.
One of the GD's I can identify as the one who was in court taking my photo.
Earlier this large group was spotted by Tom Mannis who publishes Rogers Park Bench. He spotted them hanging out at the Circle Park. This is where the Morse Avenue Gardeners Gang (MAGG) hangs out. Something's brewing.
23 comments:
We saw them at Circle Park. We stood about 15' from them for a about 10 minutes and then they left. They appeared to be discussing territory. They moved 100 yards east and then the police broke them up. They then moved to the benches facing the park and headed south. There were about 20 of them at one point.
Who would they be battling against?
Hope they are not heading toward Estes. Lot of Loitering tonight-
Maybe the Latin Kings?
This is one of the most depressing things I've heard lately. Since I've been here the park itself may have deteriorated but its safety has increased and increasingly it's been used by families. Last summer the park was packed with people strolling with and without dogs, families lazing, kids playing soccer. Every nationality seemed to be represented. Earlier this month during my strolls I observed much fewer people.
Dog walkers need to get their licenses and come back to the park (I have some extra applications for those who might be in need) and perhaps it's time for a letter writing campaign to the Mayor's office to do some maintenance on the park to bring the law abiding folks back. The park has deteriorated; maybe that's why fewer folks are utilizing this beautiful space.
I don't want to be in the middle of a gang war but I also don't want to cede this ground to people with negative intent. The police can't do this alone.
Pictures we need pictures.
Hi A/M.
Its the crossfire that you should be frightened of not the gangs themselves.
Gang bangers are not known for marksmanship. Unlike the officer that hit the mark on Pratt.
Was that officer a certified marksman or just a great shot.
Seeing one gang is not so bad seeing 2 gangs in a boarder dispute is very bad.
Living near the boarder dispute even worse.
Welcome to Rogers Park.
Not good. Where is Circle Park? I was over there at the mansion at 7pm on Sheridan for a Osterman event and didn't see them. Correct take pictures, i.d these bangers, the BP are the worst and they need to be removed mmediately. Are they fighting the LKings? The GB killed that 13 yo girl the other night, #33. I hate them and grew up with the bastards.
BP should be GD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangster_Disciples
Take pictures, take pictures. I've taken my share of GD pictures - thank you.
These guys are after my ass as much as the hate the police. They'd puck me down like a hunter goes for a wild goose if they had they open shot.
You take the fucking pictures from now on.
Joe just assured that the Broadmore's 90 units will remain affordable for the next 25 years.
Given the stellar track record we have had with affordable housing concentrated north of Howard and the terrible management the Boradmore has had under several different affordable management companies in the past, I predict that the Gangster disciples will have one more property to live in. I have no doubt that Joe's formula for success for affordable housing will result in one more block North of Howard condemned to uncivility for the rest of my life.
Why wasn't this negotiated to be a mixed income property? The rest of the city and the rest of the country is moving to mixed income as a viable soultion for the affodrable housing crisis. Not with our progresive ward. We don't want no stinking mixed income; let's preserve that voter base at all costs.
Pardon the ignorance...how does one identify a gangster disciple or a latin king? Is there a particular color?
Chicago Gang history lesson.
Oh-
I forgot to mention that I was happy ro read, at the very least, that the coppers were tailing them.
Does that give anyone else hope?
Yes ceedub it does, and also that we were not afraid to positively loiter in a group near them sends a message- that we are not intimidated.
We CAN'T be intimidated. As soon as we are, they win.
Circle Park is at the end of Morse Ave. where it dead ends into the park, on the South side adjacent to the last house on the street. It is a little space with two large circular planters (beautifully planted) and benches.
The physical deterioration of Loyola Park lately is very noticeable. I agree with Pam that there seems to be somewhat less use of the park this year, but this could be related to the odd weather. Whatever the reason is, lower use by law abiding people creates an opening for those with more sinister intentions. Obviously, good park maintenance and attractiveness of the parks to law-abiding residents go hand in hand.
It seems to be a depressing fact of life here in Rogers Park that ordinary residents must never rest keeping a watchful eye over our precious parks or else conditions will deteriorate to the breaking point. Many of us have been documenting the physical deterioration in Loyola Park for some time now. Perhaps a letter writing campaign as Pam suggests is the right next step.
First order of maintenance priority: immediately take down all grafitti the second it goes up. Loyola Park signs are covered with it lately. It's like a whole second signage system. If a territory battle is looming, don't help them by leaving up the map.
I was inside the boxing gym within the fieldhouse at that time. There are always guys hanging out in front of the building -- some are gangbangers, some are not. But what you described definately doesn't sound good.
However, I've never been intimindated nor impressed by gangbangers, and neither should anyone else. Like other posters have said, once you start running and acting scared, they've won. I know from experience -- when you show backbone to a gangbanger, they back down because they have no answer for you.
hey craig, when I said "take pictures" I wasn't directing it towards you, it was an universial statement so don't get in a huff and start swearing at me. Show some blog respect, if you don't want opinion shut down this site.
If I see them I will click away. I agree you don't have the temperment to be taking anymore fotos so don't, geez.
I don't know exactly where to post this comment, but this place looks as good as any...
I think that some of the citizens of Rogers Park (other than Craig!) should inform the Gangster Disciples and others who conduct their 'business' on Morse Avenue, of Joe Moore's birthday bash on July 19th. I am sure they will all be able to come up with the requested donation, and Joe could really see firsthand some of the results of his ummmmm, policies, and perhaps, karma too.
Is this wrong?
Or justice?
I think they probably HAVE anted up their donation to Joe, Tank Girl.
Joe is not so dumb or blind as he acts. For reasons obscure to me, it seems to serve his purposes to fill the neighborhood with lowlifes.
Wow...I am naiive. I recently bought a condo in Rogers Park and love it.. Albeit there are some people I pass that I wouldn't want to be alone with in a dark alley. Every evening I take a walk along the beach and down pratt, columbia, north shore, etc as I live right there. The day of the "gang shoot out" I would have been RIGHT THERE had it not been for the fact that for some reason I was absolutely exhausted and decided against the daily constitutional. Long story short, I also passed this gang at Circle Park the other night. I thought to myself that this looked like a group that was up to no good but it didn't really occur to me that this was actually a gang. Yikes..
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