COUNSEL OF THE LORDS

A Champaign County-based youth gang called the “Lords” petitioned City Council to consider a recommendation from an earlier study session. The recommendation pertains to a request from the Lords for the Council to approve them for assistance. In the past, the Lords have had run-ins with the police department. Consequently, several members have been indicted and imprisoned for non-violent activity. There are no outstanding warrants or impending cases concerning the Lords. However, their past continues to haunt them. The leader of the Lords has two children from one of the gang members and has an old arrest for interfering with an arrest. She has never been prosecuted. It is rumored that the Council meeting was a sham and that the Lords will not be granted any consideration. Subsequently, the Lords have done a vast amount of community organizing to get the community to come out and witness their attempt to secure funding for their newly established exempt organization and assist other youths in finding viable alternatives to antisocial behavior.