END GANG LIFE uses video in a variety of ways to give youth a real perspective on gang life.
THE END GANG LIFE INITIATIVE VIDEOS
VIEW OUR VIDEO SERIES AND VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
“PUSH” – END GANG LIFE VIDEO
End Gang Life – “Are you going to be there when she needs a push?”
End Gang Life was created to be an emotional and visually impactful anti-gang campaign that uses engaging and powerful imagery and language that speaks to people and will hopefully give youth a fresh perspective on what gangs really are, give communities a rallying point around which they can mobilize against gangs in their neighbourhoods, and make gangsters pause and have a second thought about their life choices.
“BURY YOU” – END GANG LIFE VIDEO
End Gang Life -“Are they going to have to Bury you?”
The heartbreak and pain that comes with losing a Parent to murder is unimaginable for most Children. The utter devastation of your Parent dying due to some bad, misguided choices they or others have made is even more incomprehensible.
“I MISS YOU DADDY” – END GANG LIFE VIDEO
End Gang Life – “I Miss You Daddy.”
End Gang Life was created to be an emotional and visually impactful anti-gang campaign that uses engaging and powerful imagery and language that speaks to people and will hopefully give youth a fresh perspective on what gangs really are, give communities a rallying point around which they can mobilize against gangs in their neighbourhoods, and make gangsters pause and have a second thought about their life choices.
“DIAL A DOPER” – END GANG LIFE VIDEO
End Gang Life – “Think Selling a bit of Dope is No Big Deal?”
73% of gang murder victims were drug traffickers. Please visit www.endganglife.ca for more information.
“SUN DON’T SHINE” – END GANG LIFE VIDEO
End Gang Life – “Are you thinking of your Mother?”
Brianna Kinnear was the victim of a brutal gang murder on February 3rd, 2009. Brianna, was 22, and shot to death in a pick up truck on Oxford Street in Coquitlam. Her Mother Carol speaks about the experience and about her daughters relationship with a drug dealer which lead to her death. Please visit www.endganglife.ca for more information.
“ROLL LIKE A GANGSTER” – END GANG LIFE VIDEO
End Gang Life – “You Wanna Roll Like a Gangster?”
Think you want to “Roll like a Gangster?” You’re more likely to end up in a wheel chair or worse, dead.
“DON’T LET THIS BE YOUR LAST RAKSHA BANDHAN” – END GANG LIFE
End Gang Life – “Don’t let this be your last Raksha Bandhan”
Raksha Bandan is the day in the South Asian culture that celebrates the love between a brother and sister. The Rakhi (sacred thread) signifies a pledge of protection the brother makes to his sister. Too many young men these days are losing their lives to gang violence, leaving behind families and breaking the promise to protect their sisters.
View on YouTube (English) View on Youtube (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ)
“DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOUR KIDS ARE UP TO?” – END GANG LIFE
End Gang Life – “Playground Pushers”
In early 2015 the CFSEU-BC received a phone call from a frantic teacher. The conversation that resulted will, for many, be unbelievable but it is tragically true.
A 12-year-old boy told the teacher that a 10-year-old boy approached him on the school playground and asked him if he could hook up the younger boy to sell cocaine. The sad irony of this story is that the 12-year-old actually was selling cocaine but thought it wrong that the 10-year-old would want to do it as well.
This disturbing truth was the inspiration for “Playground Pushers” and it our hope that it will generate important conversations about drugs and gangs so we never receive another phone call like the one described above again.
“YOU CAN’T ESCAPE YOUR PAST?” – END GANG LIFE
End Gang Life – “You Can’t Escape Your Past”
The premise of the video is to tell the story of a young man involved in the gang lifestyle. We see a flashback to 10 years prior when he was involved in a drive-by shooting. Gangsters have long memories, and actions have consequences. We fast forward to the future, where that young man is now a husband and father and on a shopping trip with his family when he is gunned down.
A text message the man receives before being shot reminds him that he can’t escape his past. The CFSEU-BC wants to hammer this message home and wants gangsters to know that the violent crimes they participate in will eventually catch up to them, whether they end up going to jail or end up getting killed. It is a lifestyle in which you must always look over your shoulder.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS DADDY” – END GANG LIFE
End Gang Life – “Merry Christmas Daddy”
The premise of the video is to tell the story of a young child who’s Father was involved in the gang lifestyle. Now, she waits alone at his grave every Christmas. All she wanted for Christmas was for him to come home.
“JUST BURIED” – END GANG LIFE
End Gang Life – “Just Buried”
From the outside, gang members appear to live a life of glamour, being able to provide the women in their lives with expensive, designer things, take them to fancy restaurants, and show them off at the trendiest hotspots. The reality is, there is so much uncertainty when you associate with a gang member. Their lives are always at risk, as are the lives of those who associate with them. They are constantly looking over their shoulders, and there is no guarantee that they will be around for their loved ones.
Contact the Gang Exiting and Outreach Program if you or someone you know is at risk.
Email: gangexiting@cfseu.bc.ca
Phone Number: 778-918-2287
“DEBT END STREET” – END GANG LIFE
End Gang Life – “Dead End Street”
The myth is, selling or transporting a “little bit” of drugs isn’t a big deal. The reality is there are consequences. The majority of gang-related murders are related directly to drugs. Dial-a-dopers often find themselves the victims of this violence. If you’re not murdered, you’ll be assaulted and ripped off, incur massive debts and be responsible for paying them back, or be arrested. You will have very little money to show for your criminal activities, because gang life is a debt-end street.
If you think your child or someone you know is at risk or involved in gangs or drug trafficking, there is help available for you.
Call CFSEU-BC’s Gang Intervention Team at 604-897-6023 for support. Email: gangintervention@cfseu.bc.ca
Learn more at: www.endganglife.ca
“COIN FLIP” – END GANG LIFE
End Gang Life – “Coin Flip”
There are typically two sides to gang life. You either end up in jail or you end up dead. Neither outcome is desirable. Gang life will not provide you with a long and happy life. That is the myth. The reality is you will constantly be looking over your shoulder, either for the police to arrest you or for rivals wanting to kill you. But if you want it, there is a way out, contact our Gang Intervention team at 1-604-897-6023. The choice is yours, it’s a flip of the coin
Call CFSEU-BC’s Gang Intervention Team at 604-897-6023 for support. Email: gangintervention@cfseu.bc.ca
Learn more at: www.endganglife.ca
The End Gang Life: Myths and Realities video modules bring together former gangsters, parents who’ve lost their children because of their child’s involvement in the gang lifestyle, and police officers who have first-hand knowledge of the devastation that gangs have on our communities.
End Gang Life – Myths & Realities of Gangs Video Modules Summary
insight into the lives of real people affected by gang violence
The ability to get a glimpse into the mind of a gangster and relive his experiences is not something that many have the opportunity to do. They have lived in the shadows, many have done unspeakable things, but their stories are gripping.
The heartbreak and pain that comes with losing a child to murder is unimaginable for most people. The utter devastation of your child dying due to some bad, misguided choices they or others have made is even more incomprehensible.
For the last year, the CFSEU-BC has been developing a series of short gang prevention and education videos. The End Gang Life: Myths and Realities video modules bring together former gangsters, parents who’ve lost their children because of their child’s involvement in the gang lifestyle, and police officers who have first-hand knowledge of the devastation that gangs have on our communities.
The videos open a window into the lives of people most closely associated to and affected by the gang lifestyle. The stories told are so vivid and enrapturing, with everyone describing the worst days of their lives. They are full of honest and raw emotion. The stories told are universal and can be shown to anyone in any community and still have an impact.
The six part video series is held together with interwoven real-life anecdotes told from the perspective of former gangsters, parents of slain gang members, as well as police officers who have dealt with both the enforcement of gangsters in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia as well as the bloody aftermaths. It is a series of six videos which run anywhere between about 7 and 14 minutes long (total run time for all six is approximately 57 minutes).
Aside from the general public, they are a resource for police agencies, youth, parents, schools, and community groups to watch and incorporate into conversations about gangs, drugs, and crime prevention and education.
“This compelling and groundbreaking piece of work provides never before seen insight into the lives of real people affected by gang violence. The hope is that it will offer a unique resource for our schools and that the message has a profound impact on all of whom it reaches.”
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia worked in collaboration with Odd Squad Productions and Bright Light Studios to put together this sophisticated video project that dispels many of the common myths around gangs.
We encourage you to show these modules, share them, and have an open and honest discussion about the content within them. The people involved in the modules have participated so no other families, friends, or loved ones have to go through what they have gone through.
Myths: You’ll make lots of money and be powerful & Selling a little bit of drugs isn’t a big deal
The first module disputes the myth of having lots of money, fancy cars, power and that transporting a little bit of drugs is no big deal. The basis of the first module is essentially high risk, high reward.
Myths: As a gangster’s girlfriend/wife you’ll have everything you want & Girls and women aren’t allowed to join gangs
The second module focuses specifically on female involvement in gangs. Girls have a role to play too, and they aren’t immune to the violence that accompanies the lifestyle.
Myths: You’ll have plenty of friends and they won’t care if you’re a
gangster & You’ll be respected and feared wherever you go & You can always get out whenever you want
The third module highlights the misconception that gang members will be your friends, people you count on, and that that lifestyle will earn you respect. Gang life is a book that gets judged by its cover. The horrors aren’t revealed until later.
Myths: Someone will always have your back and you’ll be protected & Even if you do end up in prison, your gang will protect you
The fourth module focuses on the belief that a gang is like a brotherhood and support system. The reality of the situation is that you are entirely alone, fighting a losing battle.
Myth: You’ll live a long and happy life
The myth of living a long and happy life is demystified entirely in the fifth module. It is no secret, but many gangsters don’t live past the age of 30.
Myths: Gang murders are a victimless crime & Gangs are only a lower class, ethnic problem & “No one in ‘my’ family would ever be in a gang”& Once kids join a gang there’s no hope for them
The sixth module serves to eliminate the stigma that surrounds gang life. It is easy to brush it off and say that these people got what they deserved, and that the murder of a gangster is a victimless crime. But there are victims: the parents, spouses, and children who are left behind to suffer.
For product information please contact us at inquiries@cfseu.bc.ca
For media inquiries please contact
CFSEU-BC Media Relations Officer: Sergeant Brenda Winpenny
Desk: 778-290-4677
Mobile: 604-838-6800
inquiries@cfseu.bc.ca
