ABSTRACT
At the request of a high school principal in California and not in response to an actual or alleged crime or campus disturbance, in February 2002 police offi cers rounded up 60 students at lunchtime and detained them for two hours. Police interrogated and photographed the students, all but one of whom were youth of color, and made records of their names and other identifying information. None of the detained students had previously been disciplined by the school or accused of belonging to a gang. Many were suspended that day for wearing colors-including red, the offi cial school color-deemed to signify gang affi liation. In response to the gang sweep, parents and youth organized rallies, press conferences, and protests at City Council meetings. Th ey also formed an organization, Families for Youth Rights.
