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Vice lord hand signs12/14/2023 ![]() ![]() With the help of this policy, the number of high school students suspended or expelled during a school year has increased by around 40 percent in the past four decades. The law was originally passed to respond to an increase in gun violence in schools. Zero tolerance stems from the Gun Free Schools Act of 1994, which mandated that schools expel students found with firearms or face losing federal funding. ![]() Courtesy of Janet Hightowerīruce’s punishment is a particularly vivid example of what can result when fear of gang activity in schools collides with the contentious policy known as “zero tolerance”-a term describing school rules that favor suspensions and expulsions, even in the case of minor infractions. On February 6, Bruce appeared before a disciplinary hearing officer who decided his fate: “Indefinite suspension with a recommendation of expulsion.” In this photo taken by his mother, Dontadrian Bruce recreates the hand signal that he made in a photo taken by a teacher and which led to his suspension from school. When Hightower arrived at the school, she was shown the picture, and that same day, February 3, Bruce was sent home. If he leaves home and goes two houses down, he’s gonna text me and let me know.” Her son had never been in trouble like that before, she said, and he made As and Bs. When his mother, Janet Hightower, received a call from the school, she was shocked at the news. “I was trying to tell my side, and it was like they didn’t even care,” said Bruce. He also said he had no idea the gesture was known to signal affiliation with the Vice Lords, a Chicago-based gang with a strong presence in Memphis, Tenn., 20 miles north of Olive Branch. They continue to have a stronghold over many Chicago neighborhoods.Bruce explained that he was simply representing the number on his football jersey, “3,” and that all the kids did it in football practice. The Vice Lords can be found in the Midwest and some Eastern cities. Members also wear Louis Vitton (VL reversed) caps and UNLV Jackets (UNLV - YVNU reversed, Vice Lord Nation United.) The Vice Lords call fellow members "People" and use the term "All is well." Members of the Vice Lords can be seen wearing University of Iowa Pittsburg Steelers Pirates and Penguins attire. Their common hand signs are a single upraised hand with the thumb, index and middle fingers to form a "VL." Also utilized is the upraised hand with all fingers extended and a separation between the middle and ring fingers. The different factions also utilize specific graffiti to identify themselves individually. The Vice Lords utilize gold, black and red as their colors and the five-pointed star, top hat, martini glass, Playboy bunny, dollar sign and the cane. Each faction has its own distinctive name and leader. ![]() These factions now operate throughout the city of Chicago and outlying areas. Since the original formation numerous breakaway factions have formed. Their main area of power remains the West-side of Chicago. They gained recognition as a gang during this time. As "club" members were released, several relocated to the Lawndale area of Chicago. It was originally formed in the late 1950s as a club in the Illinois State Training School for Boys in St. The Vice Lords are the oldest and second largest black street gang in the Chicago area. ![]()
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