European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse A elaborate funerals Are an Urban ritual of Gangland life . A homeboys go out in style by Tracy Wilkinson and Stephanie Chavez los Angeles times there is no better lesson on gang life in los Angeles than to witness the homage accorded a Quot Homeboy Quot in death. Hundreds of times each year gang members Are Laid to rest like martyred soldiers. Gang salutes follow coffins into the Earth words of love mix with vows of retribution. Tears Are dried with red and Blue bandannas a the colors waved by los Angeles warring nations of the Street. And so it went for Cadillac Jim. Gunned Down one night in front of a cheap Mot Cadillac Jim 29, was eulogized by 500 relatives friends and fellow gangsters. His deluxe funeral included a Silver Hearse and four stretch limousines six Floral sprays and other trappings befitting a Veteran of More than a decade of gangsterism. Cadillac Jim a body rested in an open casket under an 8-loot Banner that bore his name and was fringed with glistening crips Blue Garland. Many Young men Blue a scarfs hanging from their Back pockets paused by the casket and had their pictures taken with the body. Some Bent to kiss his forehead. Outside the spacious Chapel in the Angelus funeral Home los Angeles Law enforcement stood on Alert. James a Shelton or. A alias Cadillac Jim a was no stranger to them. He was an a a Well known High level original gangster who had served time in jail on weapons charges. Nearly a dozen police officers cruised in circles or posted themselves in strategic locations watching for rival gangs or other signs of trouble. They checked License plates in computers and brainstormed Over How to retrieve a stolen car driven by one of the mourners after a 17-mlle, 100-vehicle procession to Forest Lawn memorial Park in Glendale Cadillac Jim was buried in a Section called Quot brotherly love Quot As his friends threw gang signs their Blue bandannas held aloft. Quot we All knew it would happen Homie some time some Day but not so soon and certainly not to you Quot one gang member wrote in a poem in a memorial Booklet. Quot the emptiness we feel is unexplainable. And our love is without As gang violence reaches record Levels funerals such As Cadillac Jim s have become an Urban ritual in los to the funeral out of w respect for the neighbourhood and the homeboys. This is what you have been fighting and dying for. In the army you die for your country. In a gang you die for your Gregory Williams former gang member Angeles an unholy Alliance of love and hate peace and violence a unfolding with tragic regularity at cemeteries throughout the City. Quot you go to the funeral out of respect for the neighbourhood and the homeboys. This is what you have been fighting and dying for Quot said former gang member Gregory Williams 23. Quot in the army you die for your country in a gang you die for your rarely do gang members use funerals As occasions to reflect on the Cycle of carnage that often claims innocent lives. Never is there a similar showing of reverence for victims of their errant gunfire. Quot they can do a drive by be shooting at some Guy hit a 2-year-old and not think twice about it Quot said los Angeles police officer Terry Lovan a 10-year Veteran of the department s anti gang unit. Quot that s what you re dealing with. No remorse. The whole mentality is different. The Only thing they answer to is their the rituals of gang funerals Cross ethnic lines when a latino gangster is buried the trappings of the gang Are often mingled with the symbols of catholicism. At the funeral for 20-year-old a Alejandro Luevano killed by a sheriff s Deputy mourners crowded into the Dolores Mission roman Catholic Church. Wearing Rosary beads atop Biack sweat shirts stencilled with the words Quot rest in peace Homie Quot dozens of sobbing gangsters filed past Luevano s coffin. On his Chest they placed crucifixes and Black bandannas. Each funeral carries the threat of More mayhem and death. They Are Quot a Keg of dynamite Quot said . Guises executive director of say yes inc., a gang counselling Agency a it can explode at any moment Quot he said. Quot you never know who is going to show up. You never know what can police cite a Litany of horrors. Once enemy gangs invaded a funeral Home and stabbed a Corpse. Another time gangsters shot a body after stealing it from the mortuary. Late last year three youths were wounded in a gun Battle that erupted in a cemetery after two gangs came face to face during simultaneous funerals. The mourners in one party shot a 15-year-old enemy they had spied at a nearby graveside service. Soon after gunmen in a speeding car retaliated by spraying bullets into the grow. Log Angulat Tama Tina Thibadeaux the Girlfriend of Alejandro Luevano holds their 1 to year old daughter. Lee Angelee time Street gangs treat thar dead like martyred soldiers honouring them with gang salutes colors and Iowa of love and retribution. Above friends pay thar respects to Alejandro Luevano who was killed while being pursued by los Angeles county sheriffs deputies. Harold Bender funeral director at Solomon s mortuary recalled leaving a gang funeral and walking into a barrage of gunfire. Quot i had to jump in the Back of the Hearse Quot Bender sad. Quot it s just that because of the Ever present threat of violence Security for gang funerals is carefully charted by police mortuary employees and gang Counselor a right Down to the route the procession will follow from the mortuary to the burial grounds. The overriding goal is to stay out of rival gang turf and guide the caravan onto the freeway As fast As possible. Sometimes the Best of plans trouble. Steve Valdivia executive director of Community youth gang services said he will not soon forget the time a procession he was monitoring headed into enemy territory. Awaiting them on the Street he said was a barricade of armed gang members. The caravan turned Back Valdivia said and found another route to the cemetery. At the funerals themselves police say they turn a Blind Eye to much of the dubious comportment that goes on. Such As Public drinking or gang signing choosing to keep a discreet distance a unless All hell starts to break Loose. Quot it s a difficult assignment because we May see a group of gang members that under Normal conditions to would Stop and question them Quot said it. Dennis Shirey Quot but you have to have some sensitivity because they it. Be Brothers or family members to the Quot years ago we did t have to cover every funeral Quot said sgt. Bill Shortley. Quot it was the exception rather than the Rule when you had trouble. Now because of the volatility of the gangs we pretty much have to cover them for clergy who officiate at gang funerals the service is perhaps their most challenging ministerial hour. As the body of a dead Homeboy lies before the gang members some ministers seize the moment to provoke consciences and firmly condemn gang killings. Others learing that a confrontational a Rmon will Only inflame tensions choose to Comfort family members and speak in lofty words on the positive aspects of the slam Homeboy s life. Brother Modesto Leon who has officiated at 106 gang wakes refers to funerals As a Quot teachable moment Quot a Choice Opportunity to grab the attention of a captive audience. He uses the funeral to pointedly Quot ask people to look at what brought us Here and ask what they have done to add to this at a recant Wake at holy Cross Church near los Angeles Leon targeted his Sermon to several gang leaders who had encouraged a 15-year-old boy now lain before them to join the gang. Quot those who helped this Young Man get into the gang helped pull the trigger that brought him into this Deathtrap Quot Leon preached. He could feel tension mounting from the Brittle silence m the Sanctuary. Then he saw three leaders Rise from the pews and walk out of the Church. Quot i know i am hitting a nerve Quot he said Quot when they walk out in such anger Quot log Angara Ulmat gangs Sre the warring nations of the streets and Whan one of their own Dies he la accorded the ritual of a fallen Soldier. The funeral of James y. Quot Cadillac Jim Quot Shelton Drew 500 people. Page 14 a the stars and stripes wednesday. April 22, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 15
