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East San Jose Church a Safe Haven in Middle of Gang War
NBC Bay Area ^ | 9/2 | Marianne Favro

Posted on 09/02/2015 8:52:14 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in east San Jose is rich in history. It’s where Cesar Chavez launched his fight for migrant workers. But today it’s a refuge, a safe sanctuary that sits in the middle of a gang turf war.

As candles burn inside the church, outside you'll find a glaring reminder of the violence surrounding the east San Jose parish: crosses representing people killed in the Mayfair community. Gang violence is a reality here, with the church located right in the middle of the territories of rival gangs, the Norteños and Sureños.

“Gangs divided the churches and said this is our territory,” Father John Sandersfeld said. “But here is a unique place where the two gangs come together, and the line is right on the back of the parish: It borders both sides.”

Yet, for years, the rival gangs have considered this church with 7,000 parishioners neutral territory. “We could take them on retreats together,” Father Sandersfeld said. Children of rival gang members attend first communion classes at the church together, but as a precaution, they are told not to wear gang colors.

“In essence, the parents or grandparents of the now gang members built this church,” parishioner Rachel Garcia said, “so there's a legacy,”

Parishioners hope that legacy of peace hope will one day extend beyond the walls of the church.


TOPICS: Local News; Religion
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 09/02/2015 8:52:14 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

“In essence, the parents or grandparents of the now gang members built this church,” parishioner Rachel Garcia said, “so there’s a legacy,”

Parishioners hope that legacy of peace hope will one day extend beyond the walls of the church.


Geez. These gang bangers don’t take any lessons from the church do they??? If they did, they wouldn’t be out doing God knows what and killing people.


2 posted on 09/02/2015 8:56:11 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: nickcarraway

Exhibit # 121 for Trump.


3 posted on 09/02/2015 9:02:04 PM PDT by aquila48
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To: nickcarraway

“In essence, the parents or grandparents of the now gang members built this church,” parishioner Rachel Garcia said, “so there’s a legacy,”

Not a very good legacy, if sons and grandsons ended up as gang members.


4 posted on 09/02/2015 9:20:10 PM PDT by DemforBush (Ex-Democrat, and NotforJeb. Just so we're clear.)
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To: aquila48

You think he will bribe them like he did Sharpton?


5 posted on 09/02/2015 9:20:28 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Dilbert San Diego
Geez. These gang bangers don’t take any lessons from the church do they??? If they did, they wouldn’t be out doing God knows what and killing people.

Not exactly new, though. It goes back to the beginning of Christianity.

6 posted on 09/02/2015 9:24:27 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

No, that would not suit his purpose now. His new “business “ (getting elected and then re-elected) would best be served by rounding them up and either putting them in jail or deporting them.

You see, Trump is above all a pragmatist.


7 posted on 09/02/2015 9:30:02 PM PDT by aquila48
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To: nickcarraway
If you read the first sentence in the article it gives the impression that Cesar Chavez supported migrant workers from Mexico. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in east San Jose is rich in history. It’s where Cesar Chavez launched his fight for migrant workers. But today it’s a refuge, a safe sanctuary that sits in the middle of a gang turf war.

That is a plain and simple damn lie.

Chavez was a union organizer and recognized that legal and illegal immigrants from Mexico would drive down the cost of labor. He was trying to increase the wages of Mexican American field laborers. Cesar Chavez fought immigration both legal and illegal. He was trying to increase his union member workers wages.

8 posted on 09/02/2015 9:58:03 PM PDT by cpdiii (DECKHAND, ROUGHNECK, GEOLOGIST, PILOT, PHARMACIST, LIBERTARIAN The Constitution is worth dying for.)
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To: nickcarraway

Nortenos and Sorenos; both members in good standing of the Mexican Mafia.


9 posted on 09/02/2015 10:04:00 PM PDT by 5th MEB (Progressives in the open; --- FIRE FOR EFFECT!!)
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To: nickcarraway

This is sick.


10 posted on 09/02/2015 10:11:11 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Valley Forge Redux. If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us then who?)
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To: 5th MEB

Norteños tend to be affiliated with Nuestra Familia.

It’s Sureños that are usually affiliated with The Mexican Mafia.

Why we tolerate them colonizing America is something only the GOPe can explain.


11 posted on 09/02/2015 10:11:57 PM PDT by Pelham (Without deportation you have defacto amnesty)
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To: nickcarraway; All

All too many of those ‘gang members’ are ILLEGALS from Mexico running drug operations


12 posted on 09/02/2015 11:15:14 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: nickcarraway

Why are gangs, once again, ruling our streets and terrorizing our nation?


13 posted on 09/03/2015 6:09:49 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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