| The Big Lie is a program featuring inactive Virginia gang members explaining to young people the lies they tell to recruit them.
This program was a project of the Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. “Hearing testimonials from actual gang members really hits home,” said the attorney general. “It sends a clear message to kids: these people don’t care if you’re arrested, hurt, or killed. If you join a gang, you’re just a replaceable pawn.”
Richmond commonwealth’s attorney Michael Herring, who has worked closely with the attorney general’s office on anti-gang initiatives, “One of the wonderful things about this video is that you have to be asleep to miss the big message. It doesn’t talk over the kids’ heads, but it goes straight to the gut. That’s what needs to happen,” said Herring. “I commend the attorney general for his work on this video. It’s time we go on the offensive about this.”
This program was developed by prosecutors and investigators in the attorney general’s office, and features testimonials from police, real gang members, and kids who have chosen not to participate in gang life. “This is not your typical ‘just say no’ campaign. We offer kids alternatives to gangs, and inform them why the gang lifestyle is not the glamorous one gang members would have you believe,” said Cuccinelli.
“If seeing this video helps just one child decide not to join a gang, this investment is, to paraphrase MasterCard, priceless,” said Cuccinelli.
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