PRESS RELEASE

MANA Leader Hone Harawira

Wednesday 15th August

Gang Insignia Ban Won’t Work

“Banning gang insignia won’t reduce crime” says MANA Leader Hone Harawira. “This Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premise Bill is nothing but an attempt to be seen to be doing the right thing, rather than actually doing the right thing”.

“The reality is that if you want gangs to thrive then you cut people off benefits, you evict people from state homes, you up the cost of medicines, you ghettoise the schools, you demonise the poor and blame them for the ills of society – you create the conditions that make gang life better than reality ... actually you just keep doing what this government is doing spectacularly well right now”.

“On the other hand, if you want people to move away from gangs then you provide pathways that make gangs an option people won’t want to choose, you give families a signal that you care, and you eliminate the poverty. You tax the rich to create the revenue to feed the kids and to create jobs by building houses for the poor … all the things this government chooses NOT to do”.

“This bill may hide the problem but it sure won’t solve it”.

ENDS

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