Getting Off the List: Life Beyond Gang Injunctions
Getting Off the List: Life Beyond Gang Injunctions
Anthony Blockman, who grew up in Venice’s Oakwood neighborhood, is one of the few former gang members who has been successfully removed from a gang injunction with the help of the Urban Peace Institute. Despite taking a positive path in his life and working in steady construction job for over a decade, Blockman was still included in listing of active gang members.
After hearing of Blockman's struggle to be recognized a contributing and peaceful community member, Urban Peace Institute’s Staff Attorney, Josh Green, represented Blockman in his daunting 18-month journey towards removal from the Oakwood gang injunction. “Most people never have a hearing before an injunction goes into place,” commented Green. “I have clients who are on gang injunctions but have never been arrested in their entire life.”