Negotiating a Truce to End Gang Violence in Los Angeles
1Description
Gang violence in Los Angeles surged dramatically in the 1980s. Over a seven-year period beginning in 1985, more than 4,000 people died from gang-related clashes. That’s more than the death toll in some high-profile conflicts around the world, including the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
On the latest episode of The Negotiators podcast, we look at the Watts truce in 1992—a peace agreement between rival gangs in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. It had a significant impact: Gang-related murders reportedly dropped 44 percent in Watts in the first two years after the treaty was signed.
Aqeela Sherrills grew up in Watts and was one of the key negotiators of the truce. He is currently the co-founder and leader of the Community-Based Public Safety Collective, and recently partnered with the White House on preventing gun violence. He shared his story with Negotiators host Jennifer Williams.
The Negotiators is a collaboration between Doha Debates and Foreign Policy.
United States
Great topic and discussion!!! Would like to know if Mr. Sherrills is still active and meeting with groups to address the issue(s) of black on black crime that persists currently in 2023? Thank You for this presentation...we need more discussions/presentations such as this. Mr. Aqeela Sherrills has given me hope!!!! Again, Thank You Ms. Host and Mr. Sherrills.