Gangs in Ciudad Juarez threaten children

Elementary school teachers are the latest victims of an exploding extortion racket in the border city of Ciudad Juárez, as criminal gangs threaten educators to either hand over their coming Christmas bonuses or see harm done to their families or students, teachers’ groups say. With Monday a school holiday and news of the threats spreading in the media, on the Internet and by word of mouth during the long weekend, there were fears that an increasing number of parents would keep their children at home today, forcing additional schools to close. At least two schools shut down early Friday because of a lack of students. The extortion against teachers was the latest escalation of the violence and fear that have taken over the city across the border from El Paso.