Occupy Atlanta: Bloods And Crips Come Together

Gang affiliations are oftentimes set in stone, with members choosing sides and vowing to remain loyal to their selected group. But two members of the infamously rival gangs the Bloods and the Crips, have put aside their differences in favor of one common cause: Occupy Atlanta.

According to an article written by Occupy Atlanta participant Tim Franzen, Sherrod Britton and Shabaka Addae Guillory have become best friends despite their opposing associations.

Guillory, a 20-year-old who joined the Crips at age 14 met Britton, a 29-year-old Blood member, during an impromptu freestyle rap session at Occupy Atlanta.

"I saw him in the park, saw his colors.," Guillory told Franzen. "There was no mean mug or rivalry because we realized that what's happening here is so much bigger then gang rivalry."

Both men were attracted to the protest and its purpose. Guillory joined the movement after hearing about it on the news. Britton, who was passing the demonstration one day, said he stopped to get more information and never left.

"I stayed for the common cause, speaking for the people," Britton said. "I feel strongly that we have the right to jobs, health care, and affordable higher education."

This isn't the first time the rival gangs have put their problems aside to fight for a common cause. In August 2010, both active and former members of the gangs came together for the Heal the Hood Peace March in Denver.

The groups also showcased their solidarity during a rally for Sean Bell, the New York man who was killed by police leaving a strip club after his bachelor party.

Now these two members have forgotten their differences in support of a cause that has swept the nation. At one point favoring violence bloodshed for rivals who crossed into enemy turf, Britton said the two now share a tent at the Occupy Atlanta base.

"We are connected through music, faith, and Occupy Atlanta."

Comments

[corte33]

12:15 PM on 12/02/2011

I bet these gangs aren't afraid to take on Wall Street.

[queenietoo]

02:17 PM on 11/14/2011

It is about time they come together and stop all the madness, they are too smart to be fighting and killing each other, stop! fighting each other and come together and make something positive happen.

[FiredUpRTG]

11:06 AM on 11/14/2011

If they could only be supported if they were to channel their organizational energies into legitimate business. If they could only see the reward in improvement instead of staying down. If hey could stop oppressing themselves and in turn each other. They could be successful businessmen instead of hated by society. No one fears them; they fear what gang bangers can do. They pity gang bangers.

[SmittyT]

05:08 PM on 11/12/2011

Good for them! They need to understand where the real beef is and it's NOT with each other!

[waynelaboy]

04:24 PM on 11/12/2011

ohhhh now you went and did it, you united. now who you good ol' boys' gonna have beefin.'? JUST DO US A FAVOR AND DON'T I REPEAT DON'T GIVE THE MUSLIM BROTHERLY HUG, IT'LL MAKE THE COPS COMMIT SUICIDE!

[bryanwhite1214]

10:43 AM on 11/12/2011

Those are no real bloods and crips in Atlanta or outside the west coast for that matter. These are just some kids who've listened to "the Chronic" and watched Gangland and the First 48 a few too many times. The only real C&B's I've ever seen was on the West Coast.

[FiredUpRTG]

11:07 AM on 11/14/2011

Keep eyes open: they've expanded their business east, midwest, south and the land of corn.

[Busterman]

07:55 AM on 11/12/2011

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Teen-Punching-Man-at-CTA-Stop-Caught-on-Tape-133703583.html?dr

[openvisions55]

10:19 PM on 11/11/2011

If they can come together than the Republicans should wake up. It's not hard to stick together and do good. Most of these young people are very smart and could be something big one day. Some have just had it hard and many people do not understand all that happens when the dark side shows up in the groups. I hope after this occupy is over they can still stand strong together. They would do good for our community together and stronger for the black community. Keep up the good in you.

[Kevin Schmidt]

05:28 PM on 11/11/2011

The upper 1%'s strategy of divide and conquer the bottom 99% is starting to unravel.

[FiredUpRTG]

11:08 AM on 11/14/2011

Yes! Let us pray for that!

[Aequus]

09:34 PM on 11/10/2011

What a heartwarming story. Let's be sure to hold up these forward-thinking young men as examples of the many wonderful kinds of people coming together under the big tent of progressive social change. Maybe they'll cut some PSAs for Obama. I hope my kids can strive to be like this one day.

[tttony]

06:35 AM on 11/11/2011

So you obviously have low regard for their lifestyles. How can you be so dense as to mock their change toward what you obviously feel is the 'right' direction?

[Aequus]

02:44 PM on 11/14/2011

A change would be "I'm no longer in a gang, brutalizing, killing, extorting, pushing drugs, and terrorizing my own community and others," not just showing up at a rally. A gang member can go shopping at Pottery Barn and still be a gang member. To think that these guys showing up at an event where people who care and have conviction for a just society somehow absolves their lifestyle is what's dense. "Hooray, everybody, we've got society's murderous worst here at our rally. Hand them a sign and let us join in fellowship. Try not to kill anyone, OK guys?

[NikkiNY12]

12:44 PM on 11/10/2011

Jesus! Save us all...this is pathetic really...Mercy!!!!

[TINKER6]

08:10 PM on 11/09/2011

Maybe their starting to entertain where the real fade is coming from.

[123biteme]

08:38 AM on 11/09/2011

Are you kidding me? The bloods and crips? These people are nothing but thugs and criminals who have and continue to destroy thousands of lives in our communities. How many more innocent victims, mothers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles have to die before we remove these parasites from our neighborhoods. I am so sick and tied of these so-called unity events. These people are killing our children and destroying our communities. They should be wiped out plan and simple.

[LateNightMike]

10:54 AM on 11/11/2011

You're 100% correct, what about all the innocent victims of these thugs. They should not be brought together, unless it's in a mass grave.

[Roosevelt Brown]

05:55 PM on 11/11/2011

No people should be wiped, out just reformed. If wiping out was the answer then what about the people who enslaved the ancestors of the Bloods and Crips... Have we wiped them out for their murder, destruction, and genocide against our people? They have been forgiven and allowed to prosper and still be in control. Maybe you are like me. I grew up in the hey-days of the original Crips and Bloods in South Central L.A., Watts, Calif. I never Gang Banged but I knew and loved many of my Brothers. They were trapped in a society that would resist them even if they were not in a gang... I know, I lived it. No my man, I say that they are one of the most powerful and consistent groups of people in the community, they just need to be shown how to harness and utilize what they possess... That is always the answer.

[jeffhintx]

05:42 AM on 11/09/2011

Guys, if you will just harness all that anger and energy that you normally devote to being enemies and instead devote it to the larger community, you will find that the whole world will have your back.
Be rivals if you must but make it more like a friendly rivalry, put aside the age old feuds.

[tttony]

06:35 AM on 11/11/2011

Isn't that exactly what they were talking about?

[devans00]

03:49 AM on 11/09/2011

I have to laugh when I think about all the time, energy and money put into making Americans fear and hate each other. Now being undone by the OccupyWallStreet movement. Hahahahaa