Groups to Speak Out Against Gang Violence on Monday

[Updated: Monday, June 9, 2009 | 9:00 a.m.] A coalition of citizens and officials concerned about gang violence in Pasadena and Altadena says it plans to hold a press conference Monday to address recent criminal activity in the area.

The conference is being organized by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations and Pasadena-Altadena Vision 20/20, a group formed in 2007 and dedicated to ending gang and racialized violence in the area, according to event spokesperson Tony Massengale.

Massengale said Monday that he is a Pasadena resident and is employed by the Commission on Human Relations as a senior human relations consultant specializing in racialized gang violence prevention.

The joint press conference scheduled for 1 p.m. near Pasadena City Hall is the first in a series, Massengale said. The next may be located in Altadena, he added.

“Our intent is to speak out against the violence which seems to be rising inside of Pasadena-Altadena and adjacent cities,” Massengale said in an earlier e-mail interview.

The press conference was called in response to the May 29 murder of David Crosby Jr., and an attempted homicide that occurred Friday in Altadena. Area law enforcement officials did not respond to press inquiries regarding Friday’s attempted murder as of Sunday night.

However, USA Today reported that two men, Dalonte Andrews and Terence Bonds, both 18-year-old Pasadena men, were arrested for Friday for shooting an unidentified man in the buttocks in the presence of police officers. The newspaper described the attempted murder as a gang-related drive-by shooting, and that both men are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Pasadena Superior Court.

Pasadena-Altadena Vision 20/20 will also be joined by relatives of gang violence victims, according to a news release. Pasadena Councilwoman Jacque Robinson is also involved in the coalition, according to the organization’s mission statement documents.

Massengale said Monday that community religious and civic leaders are also expected to attend the press conference however he could not yet confirm any names.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard said he was invited to attend but is unable to do so, and that Pasadena Police Department officials are aware that the press conference is happening Monday.

Massengale also said that Pasadena Human Relations Commission staff member Sonya Amos was contacted about the press conference, but he was unaware if any commission members plan to attend the conference.