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Is a gang of Arab youths called “the PLO” stalking the streets of Bay Ridge — or is this a case of post-9-11 paranoia?
A picture featuring a young Arab Bay Ridge teen making the letters PLO with his hands has raised suspicions that the political message allegedly sent by a 12-year-old is only a small piece of a growing cultural conflict resonating in south Brooklyn.
On Memorial Day last year, residents of Senator Street between Sixth and Fifth avenues awoke to see the letters “PLO” painted on a garage, four trees, and a van. Only the houses on the block that displayed the American flag were attacked.
“I believe they were trying to intimidate us,” said Ayed Eskander, a resident in one of the defaced houses. “Only the homes that displayed the American flag were attacked.”
Eskander, who moved to Bay Ridge from Egypt in 1980 to “raise my children in freedom,” wasn’t sure if the vandalism was the work of a gang, but viewed it as a clear message to hide his flag.
Police later charged a 12-year-old described only as “male, 12-years-old, Arabic” with the Memorial Day graffiti attack, but police at the time said there was no evidence the attacks were bias or politically motivated crimes.
Tensions were already high among some residents of the area. Last year on Mother’s Day, about 200 Arab-Americans marched through Bay Ridge in an anti-Israel protest. Many held up signs denouncing America’s support of Israel and chanted “Shame, shame, USA.”
At the time, there were reports of new “PLO” graffiti on trees in Owls Head Park and fire hydrants around the neighborhood.
That’s when the picture surfaced showing a young teen making the letters “PLO” with his hands while other youths around him make other gang signs.
MySpace, the popular social networking Web site, is also comprised of groups of like-minded members. One group, titled “PLO,” has many New Jersey and Brooklyn members.
“Dis is the Real PLO mafia No Fags All Green oLive Gangstas U kno how we do IF u aint Green U aint Mean,” the MySpace PLO introduction states (sic!).
One Brooklyn member promised to devote his life “to the holy war and crushing the Zionist pigs.”
It is unclear whether a “gang,” as such, exists. So one local official — who knows a thing or two about crime — urged locals not to jump to any conclusions.
“Bay Ridge is a safe community,” said Dean Rasinya, a 30-year law enforcement veteran who was recently elected chairman of Community Board 10. “And remember that we are talking about is graffiti and not violence. Most likely the ‘PLO gang’ is just a bunch of young kids playing pranks.”
©2007 Community Newspaper Group
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