Everyone who I called my friends, persons who I used to hang out with, these were the individuals who formed and made up the gang known as the Rebellion Raiders. So when the gang was formed I was automatically a part of it, because it was formed by my friends. I didn’t have to go out and join the gang. Troit Lynes, former death row inmate of Her Majesty Prison in the Bahamas

~ Drexel Deal

Drexel Deal Community Death Row Inmates Friends Gang Members Hanging Out Joining A Gang Misguided Youth Rebellion Raiders Wanting To Be Apart Wanting To Belong

A group of us were downtown on Bay Street. It was some twelve to fifteen of us with nothing to do. We had just been in a fight with some Kemp Road fellas. It really wasn’t anything to talk about, because we quickly ran them off Bay Street. Feeling pumped up about what we had just done and looking for more action, we started running in the middle of Bay Street, screaming and shouting ‘Rebellions!” and ‘Raiders for life!”, making a real nuisance of ourselves. About nine of us were arrested by the police and charged with public terror and disorderly behavior. So in fact, we were given our gang name by the police, and Milton Street became known as the Public Terrorist Rebellions. Galen ‘Ninja’ Nordelus former leader of the Public Terrorist Rebellions through Milton Street.

~ Drexel Deal

Drexel Deal At Risk Youth Branding Community Policing Gang Members Gang Names Identity Law Enforcement Nonsense Nuisance Public Terrorist Rebellion Raiders Seeking Attention Sense Of Belonging Street Gangs Street Life Terrorist Wanting To Belong

I asked, “When the Rebellions were at its peak doing nonsense, everyone was trying to keep away from the area, yet you were going in, why were you going into that area? Supt. Strachan answered quite frankly, Because I was not afraid. I felt like they are my people, they are my color. I don’t know of anyone born after me that I should be afraid of, that was how I felt. I knew I could’ve walk through Strachan’s Corner, sit down and felt at home, and their parents also accepted me. I came to the conclusion; these kids just need someone to show them some attention. They just wanted to belong, that was what a lot of them were looking for. So I said to myself, if I could assist them I would, and that was what I did. Supt. Allerdyce Strachan, the first female officer to rise to the rank of superintendent on the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

~ Drexel Deal

Drexel Deal At Home At Risk Communities At Risk Youth Attention Caring Cops Caring Person Clubs Community Policing Crime Prevention Doing Good Feeling At Home Feeling Wanted Gang Intervention Gang Members Good Cops Helping People Law Enforcement Love In Action Love Of Country My Color My Kind My People No Child Left Behind Nonsense Not Afraid Not Giving Up Parents Acceptance Police Intervention Police Outreach Police Programs Police Relations Police Superintendent Reaching Gang Members Rebellion Raiders Sense Of Belonging Showing Love Touching Lives Wanting To Belong Woman Police Youth Youth Programs

Do you know the reason why fellas liked hanging around me? It is because I made them feel appreciated and respected. If you were a scary fella but you are good at stealing cars, then be good at that. This is where your respect is coming from. Scrooge, former leader of the Rebellion Raiders street gang that once boasted of having some ten thousand members.

~ Drexel Deal

Drexel Deal Appreciation At Risk Youth Feeling Appreciated Feeling Special Feeling Wanted Friendships Gang Intervention Gang Leader Gang Prevention Gang Recruitment Gangsters Reaching Young People Rebellion Rebellion Raiders Respect Second Family Sense Of Belonging Street Family Surrogate Family Wanting To Belong Youth Groups

I asked Troit, ‘What was it about the gang leaders that made you want to be more like them?’Troit answered, ‘To be truthful, I used to feel good in their presence. I used to feel wanted in their presence. I used to feel appreciated in their presence. In their presence, you can sit down and talk and you can feel that they appreciate you. Troit Lynes, former death row inmate of Her Majesty Prison in The Bahamas

~ Drexel Deal

Drexel Deal Appreciation At Risk Young Men Feel Good Feeling Appreciated Feeling Wanted Presence Rebellion Rebellion Raiders Reform Gang Member Roll Models Sense Of Belonging Street Family Street Gangs Thug Life Wanting To Belong