Junior High Rethinks Ban on Raider, King Logos
Officials at a junior high school have banned all clothes with Raider and King logos to help head off the spread of gangs, but they were rethinking the policy after a number of students defied the ban Wednesday.
Although it doesn’t have a gang problem, Loggers Run Middle School in suburban Boca Raton took the step as a precautionary measure, said Murray Harris, spokesman for the Palm Beach County School District.
“We’re still feeling our way,” Harris said. “The principal is gathering more information.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday that the league has initiated a program aimed at discouraging gang violence.
“We’re aware of the issue of gangs wearing sports and other fashionable apparel and we’re taking steps to address it,” he said.
The NFL is issuing cards entitled “Think About It” with football players saying “Join a team, not a gang,” he said.
School District officials said they were concerned that two Ft. Lauderdale-based gangs will migrate as police pressure gang members.
The black-and-silver logos of the two L.A. teams are a favorite with many gangs, according to Joe Melita, an assistant principal at a high school in Ft. Lauderdale who was hired as a consultant to prepare for the possible northern migration of gang activity from Dade and Broward counties.
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