Should Gang-Related Nikes Get Banned?

In wake of the Wednesday's BART path shooting where two teen boys from Albany High School were shot by two young men along El Cerrito's Ohlone Greenway, readers have questioned whether the attack was over a pair of gang-related shoes.

Albany High Principal Ted Barone sent out a letter to the community after the shooting that said: "What we understand is that they were approached by two men who asked about their shoes."

while the other teen suffered injuries that appeared to be superficial, according to El Cerrito police.

A reader commented saying, "two boys were shot on Monday, in a 'nice neighborhood' in Brentwood, because they were wearing Nike Cortez shoes." The reader said these shoes are symbols of gang affiliation.

The Contra Costa Times reports that a car had pulled up and a passenger asked about the boy's Nike Cortezes, claiming "Gang members like to wear those." The car opened fire among the boys shortly after.

The reader said there are various gang emblems, colors, and other markings that are now being sold by sports clothing stores.

"There is a whole industry now marketing gang-only clothing, with extremely subtle markings, in even the most upscale places," the reader added.

Another reader commented on El Cerrito Patch's Facebook page: "We need to ban gang shoes from [El Cerrito] and Albany."

What do you think about these gang-related shoes and articles of clothing?

Have you seen any that you were able to identify?

Do they need to be banned at schools?