Gang violence has long been a problem in Santa Cruz County, especially among teens. Now some people say that the Urbano clothing store in Capitola Mall is helping stoke the fire. In question is a jacket with the questionable message “Dispose of your local snitch” emblazoned boldly across the back. “Even if they don’t go in and buy it,” says one parent, “kids see it. It gets them psyched up.”
Gang violence has long been a problem in Santa Cruz County, especially among teens. Now some people say that the Urbano clothing store in Capitola Mall is helping stoke the fire. In question is a jacket with the questionable message “Dispose of your local snitch” emblazoned boldly across the back. “Even if they don’t go in and buy it,” says one parent, “kids see it. It gets them psyched up.”
Store employees disagree. They claim that it has no gang message at all, and argue that “it really depends on how you interpret it.”
One meaning of “snitch” is “an informer,” from classic underworld slang meaning “the nose.” In that sense, it clearly has a gang-related message, with “dispose” being interpreted as a call for violence.
The only other common meaning is from the Harry Potter series of books, where the Golden Snitch was the coveted winged ball that quidditch players sought to win. Chances are, however, that the message is not a rejection of the commercialization of children’s literature or the Harry Potter franchise, or even a statement that contemporary Muggle variations on the sport are actually kind of silly. If your broom don’t fly, it ain’t quidditch.
Capitola police have not yet received any complaints about the contentious jacket, nor have they indicated how they intend to respond if they do. One thing is certain, though. It’s a far cry from last generation’s controversial “Make love, not war.” Read more at Fox35.
