Earlier this week while the Guardian Angels were on their regular patrol of Washington Hts. they were stopped by 2 women who take care of the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine on Fort Washington Ave. in Washington Hts. They said that the SHRINE had been vandalized with graffiti and that in the sanctuary they had taken down the Pope’s picture and smashed it. I believe that there was other vandalism done. The women reported it to the local 34th PD Pct. They asked if the GA could help and prevent future acts of vandalism. We said of course we would.
The graffiti fit a pattern. Just like MS-13 has put up it’s graffiti on a RC church in Bayside recently this graffiti was put up by the LATIN KINGS on 167th St. The latino gangs know that the RC Church is a sanctuary for the immigrant and illegal alien community. They know that the immigrants congregate and share info. about being harassed by the local GANGS when they come to RC activities. They are not going to go to the NYPD. The Gangs know that. By Tagging up a Church or RC facility they are letting the immigrants know that you can run…….but you can’t hide. We will reach into the Church and get you because “SNITCHES GET STITCHES AND END UP IN DITCHES”.
Our GA patrols have seen this same pattern of latino gang activity in Riverhead, Central Islip and Brentwood , LI. They target a RC Church or facility. Their TAGS are to let the immigrants know that they rule……Not Jesus Christ. They will also vandalize statues, pictures, relics and brag about it daring anyone to report it. If they DARE DO then there will be dire consequences.
Unlike the police we have a different way of dealing with it. We first establish a patrol in the area. We help in the repair of the vandalism and we personally remove the graffiti. We let it be well known in the community that they can confide in us and we will protect them while giving the info. of the crime to the police. The gangs see us and we make it well known that this will no longer be tolerated. That there will be consequences if it happens again.
