Local News in Brief : Raider Trading Cards Put Down Gangs
The Los Angeles Raiders and the Police Department on Tuesday kicked off a program to distribute 3 million football trading cards carrying an anti-gang message to children.
“I’m sick and tired of seeing youths slain,” Raiders running back Marcus Allen said, noting that more than 200 people have been killed in Los Angeles County this year by gang members. “It’s really senseless and we have to do something about it.”
The cards contain a color photograph of an individual Raider and an anti-gang message. Two different cards will be available each week during the six-week program to boys and girls who approach a police officer and ask for them, police spokeswoman Charlene Klink said.
The cards will be ready for distribution Oct. 9, Klink said.
“Gang violence is permeating every neighborhood, and it will take the continued efforts of law enforcement, working in conjunction with the community, to stop this murderous plague on our city,” Police Chief Daryl Gates said.
There was a similar program with Dodgers baseball cards, Gates said, noting, “We are confident that the Raiders football cards will have the same measure of success.”
The program is sponsored by the Texaco Refining and Marketing Inc.
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