You don't seem very familiar with this topic, which is a good thing. But gang activity in a high school setting is different. These kids aren't usually aware or concerned with the politics you mention because they're at the bottom of the barrel, making chump change and their stakes are less compared to the older people who are using them. Most of them aren't even really a part of any gang (just associated or lying). They're more invested in having the identity of a gang member, becoming a person who can't be messed with, giving them some control over their lives, violently exploding from whatever trauma they have experienced -- which led to the purposeless riots/stabbing. They're still just children and more predictable than a drug addict or untreated mentally ill person. Though I was convinced I'd get jumped at least once before graduating, that never happened because I kept my head down and avoided trouble - and also, the police started to come down hard on the school when I was a Junior. In comparison, I feel powerless to protect myself around Columbia.