Faced with this situation, and instead of implementing a policy of greater social adjustment and consideration for the problems that truly afflict the population, there is ever-increasing repression and overcrowding in the already overcrowded prisons, which hold more than three million inmates.

In short, a violence that stems from centuries past, inherited from slavery and the genocide of Native Americans, prevails—a major factor responsible for the high homicide rate in the United States.

Another major factor has been the continued militarization of the United States after World War II. That nation ranks highly globally in gun-related deaths; and together with five South American countries, it accounts for half of all gun deaths worldwide, more than Canada, Europe, and Australia combined.

In conclusion, violence is a complex social phenomenon with multiple causes, including social, cultural, psychological, and biological factors.

With Donald Trump in power, this will only worsen.

WITHIN THE USA

The red-faced president blames immigration for all of the country's evils, worsening the conditions in which immigrants are forced to live in "the land of plenty."

Discrimination persists and worsens there, impacting health, education, food, and employment sectors.

Thus, the current high homicide rate in the United States is due to widespread feelings of instability, alienation, and dissatisfaction with social interactions between groups, government policymaking, and socioeconomic status and well-being.

Trump labeled the consequences of the violence a “carnage,” and therefore encouraged stricter and more punitive criminal policies, such as the three-case recidivism law and mandatory minimum sentences. It is often argued that, without these measures, many more citizens will fall victim to the rampant violence and unrest affecting the nation.

EVERY 25.9 SECONDS

The United States records a violent crime every 25.9 seconds, according to the latest annual report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI's Initial Crime Report compiled information from 16,675 law enforcement agencies, covering approximately 325 million people (95.6% of the population).

Regardless of the high number, it represents a decrease compared to previous years, which Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief of Detectives Alan S. Hamilton attributed to community programs, as he explained in an interview with CBS.

For his part, Romney Harrison, former police commissioner of Suffolk County, suggested that some criminals have shifted to cybercrime, which may explain the reduction.

BUT…

…that violence persists, despite police claims of success in gang control, as recently seen in Brooklyn with the dismantling of a criminal organization comprised of young people who possessed an arsenal of firearms.

Fifteen members of two factions of the violent 59 Brin Blocs street gang, based in Coney Island, associated with a string of violent crimes, are now behind bars and will face various criminal charges. The detainees are linked to a wave of crimes that has terrorized multiple neighborhoods. Among the most heartbreaking cases is that of a teenager who was paralyzed after being struck by a stray bullet last February during a shootout near Newkirk Avenue.

This Monday, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, along with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tischa, announced that perpetrators have been formally charged with conspiracy to commit murder, weapons possession, murder, attempted murder, and other related charges.

“The indictment reflects our commitment to continue reducing shootings and homicides in Brooklyn by targeting violent gang members who destabilize our neighborhoods with senseless gunfire,” Gonzalez said.

The investigation focused on several gangs operating in various public housing complexes near Coney Island. One of the gangs, FOG/Konex Sedes, controls the area from From 15th Street to West 37th Street, between Surf and Neptune Avenues.

The rival gangs of FOG/Konex Sedes are numerous and spread across a wide area of downtown Brooklyn. These include Encuentros WOOO, Choo, 780, Folk Nation, GWAY, R2R, and Drench, with a presence in Brownsville, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Coney Island, Gravesend, and East New York.

The defendants allegedly traveled extensively to commit violent acts against their rivals. The incidents included in this indictment occurred in nine police precincts, from Coney Island to Downtown Brooklyn.

The investigation revealed that the acts of violence included in the indictment were allegedly committed to maintain territorial control and in retaliation for taunts from rival gangs related to the murder of FOG/Konex Sido member Jabón Johnnie on April 27, 2025, and the accidental death of member Tamara Carmona on April 29, 2025.

The defendants regularly exchanged taunts through drill music videos and social media messages, including in an online chat group.

“This 13-month investigation closed 16 separate shooting cases and put an end to the wave of violence and retaliation that these gang members had unleashed in Brooklyn,” said Commissioner Tischa.

Unlike the large, hierarchical structures of past decades, today’s gangs in New York City operate as hyperlocal factions. It’s estimated that there are hundreds of these small groups that, although they identify with national brands like Blocs, Creps, and Los Trinitarios, now operate with greater autonomy and extreme territorial violence.

A DIFFICULT SOLUTION

But it’s difficult to find a real solution in a nation that violates even its Constitution in the name of increased arms sales, actions supported by unscrupulous congressmen, led by the infamous Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, both of unfortunate Cuban origin.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff