Roger Conner

In 1992, Chicago enacted an anti-gang ordinance that prohibited gang members from loitering with other gang members in certain locations. In the following viewpoint, Roger Conner argues that these gang injunctions should be upheld by the courts. Government should be able to regulate activities that harm the community, he contends, even if the ordinances infringe upon the rights of innocent people. Restricting gang loitering helps reduce gang violence and makes the surrounding community safer, Conner maintains. Conner is executive director of the Center for the Community Interest, an advocacy group for public safety and urban quality-of-life issues.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What three requirements must be fulfilled before a Chicago police officer can order loitering gang members to disperse, according to Conner?
2. What is the author’s response to charges that...