Gang-Banger Fashion Show
Community Members Deliver a Message to Council Member Nancy Pyle
Video by Marlo Custodio // Story by Alex Gutierrez // Photos by Charisse Domingo and Richard Babcock

At the June 21st Special San Jose City Council Meeting on Police Issues, Councilperson Nancy Pyle, after dozens of public testimonies of being racially profiled, told the council and community in the audience the room, “Don't look like a gang-banger if you don't want to be picked up for being connected with a gang.” Audience members, of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, were appalled by the stereotyping, racially insensitive, comment, particularly given the context of the public meeting and that not one of the community members mentioned any gang affiliation.  Pyle's comment was received as dismissive to the public statements, and saying that police harassment is caused by the community, rather than the police.

So in response, on Wednesday, June 27, 2007, we held a GangBanger Fashion Show to deliever the message to Nancy Pyle that she needs to be stop the racist stereotyping of San Jose residents. There was a perfect small stage already built for the event by the time we arrived.   Everyone was in place -- security, audience, the local news channels.   Media arrived to get footage of what may be a once a year event until City Hall and San Jose Police stop racially profiling innocent citizens of the city of San Jose just by the clothing we wear, especially in California, the most fashionable state in the United States of America.

As the show went on, the gang-bangers (regular citizens) walked across the stage, displaying their fashion sense and speaking on their experiences with the SJPD (San Jose Police Department) on how the police abused their authority towards them just for being who they are.

After the fashion show, everyone from the group, accompanied by the media, all headed inside of City Hall to the 18th floor, chanting on our way up with a stereo system playing anthems   -- “I'm Too Sexy for My Shirt”, “Nuthin' but a G Thang”, and “Gangsta's Paradise”.  

When everyone got to the 18th floor, Nancy Pyle refused to come out or send a representative of hers.   As soon as the crowd heard that they could smell victory, the volume in the room suddenly went from minimum all the way to the max.   On behalf of residents of the city who have been harassed by the cops, we then gave a gift to Nancy Pyle   -- a white-tee --   sending a message that “fashion is not a crime.”  

To see news coverage. Click Here
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=24507@kpix.dayport.com

Angel Luna, Brian Helmle, Jesse Ingram-Stone, and "Mad" show off the clothing they wore when they were harassed by San Jose police officers

"Mad" gives Nancy Pyle the message that she's got the "GangBanger" vote

Community member Brian Helmle was carrying a video camera when he was harassed by San Jose Police on Cinco De Mayo 2006

Media coverage

Teacher and Community organizer Adriana Cabrera-Garcia speaks on being racially profiled

Shamako Noble mc's the event on the steps of San Jose City Hall

Walking into San Jose City Hall into Nancy Pyle's office

While waiting for the elevators, Angel Luna and Jesse Ingram-Stone show off their clothing

Media follow the protesters as we ask for Nancy Pyle who refused to meet the community

Shamako Noble and Angel Luna show off the white tee protesters brought for Nancy Pyle

Although Nancy and her staff refused to come out, a "statement" made its way to the press and here is the crowd reading it, which is basically a re-statement of her original words

De-Bug member Charisse Domingo getting interviewed by the Philippine media to highlight the case of the Custodio family

When Raj Jayadev, left, asked Nancy Pyle's rep what made her an expert on gang issues, he replied, "She's been a teacher for 25 years."

The White Tee we left for Nancy