By Khalida Sarwari
On the second day of his visit to the South Bay, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder toured the San Jose Job Corps facility and lauded the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force as an exemplary program that combats gang activity.
“I hope what I’ve seen here today, the lessons I’ve learned, we’ll replicate in other parts of the country,” Holder said at a news conference following the tour.
Earlier today, Holder met with students at the Job Corps to discuss the effects of gangs and violence in their communities. He said their stories were “heart wrenching,” but gave him hope for the future.
Angel Salvador Miranda-Linares, 19, said meeting the Attorney General was “fascinating” and he regretted that their encounter was brief.
“He was a really down-to-earth guy,” Miranda-Linares said.
Miranda-Linares said he has been at the Job Corps for two years and joined initially to set a good example for his younger brothers.
The first time he joined a gang he was 12 years old and was following in the footsteps of some of his friends and older siblings, Miranda-Linares said.
The allure of gangs were “money, drugs, parties, entertainment and a sense of security,” he said.
“The best way to find an escape,” Miranda-Linares said. “It’s easier to get into a gang than applying to a job.”
But, influenced by his older sister who left a gang and is now raising a family in San Leandro, Miranda-Linares decided to join the Job Corps. He said the Job Corps has helped him graduate from high school and find jobs and internships. He hopes to one day become a congressman.
The Job Corps is a federal program for youth ages 16 through 24 and offers career, technical and academic training.
The Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force was established in 1991 by former Mayor Susan Hammer and brings together various local agencies to reduce gang activity in San Jose.
Joining Holder on the tour were Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District, Mayor Chuck Reed, Santa Clara County’s District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Assistant Police Chief Diane Urban, and members of the task force.
On Thursday, Holder delivered the keynote address at the inaugural National Strategy Conference on Combating Child Exploitation in San Jose. This afternoon he was scheduled to deliver remarks at the dedication of the William H. Neukom Building at Stanford Law School.