Nipsey Hussle’s Death Spawns Change In LA Gang Culture, Crips & Bloods Agree To A Tentative Cease-Fire

Nipsey Hussle’s Death Spawns Change In LA Gang Culture, Crips & Bloods Agree To A Tentative Cease-Fire

Slain rapper Nipsey Hussle continues to change lives after his own was ended this past spring. According to reports, two local gang chapters – the Swamp Crips and Campanella Park Piru Bloods – met in Compton to agree to, at least temporarily, cease fire. Talks of bringing calm to the consistently bloody activity between the two gangs is contributed to the death of Nipsey Hussle. The two gang sets historically met in peace at a memorial outside of his Marathon Clothing Store, shortly after his death.

A fellow member of Nipsey’s gang, the Rollin’ 60s Crips – Shamond “Lil AD” Bennett – commented on the cease-fire agreement:

“We’re going to carry what Nipsey wanted, what he was trying to preach in his songs.”

Meanwhile, some LA natives believe the Crips and Bloods’ peace agreement can be carried out with hard work, while others are skeptical. Cal State Long Beach professor, Alex Alonso, teaches a course on gangs, and his life’s work is to bring peace in the streets. He told the LA Times:

“I’m extremely optimistic of these talks, and I believe they’re already saving lives.”

LaTanya Ward, an organizer for the meeting, tells local gang members to think of the bigger picture. She added:

“Some people say, ‘It’s good you’re doing that, but I’m not there yet.’ I tell them, ‘If you wind up being the one that’s on the ground taking your last breath, you’re going to wish that this treaty would have worked.'”

Do you believe the impact of Nipsey Hussle’s death is enough to keep the peace among gangs in his notoriously violent hometown of Los Angeles? Let us know in the comments. 

Written by Miata Shanay