On March 26th, the Prep community had the honor of welcoming Father Greg Boyle along with two of his homies, as he refers to them, Robert and Anthony Merjil, as keynote speakers for the Peace and Justice Week Assembly. In addition to sharing their experiences with Homeboy Industries, an organization founded by Father Boyle and built on the ideologies of kinship, love, and compassion, the three men happily obliged to a personal interview in which they shared advice and personal stories.
Father Boyle and Robert and Anthony have experienced the effects of gang conflict and the cycle of violence. Father Boyle has seen the misconceptions surrounding this topic, as well as the horror and despair that stems from it. He has buried over 200 hundred people due to violence related deaths since he became the pastor of Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights in 1986.
Robert Merjil has personally witnessed these effects, living in the LA area for most of his work, growing up without a mother figure, and getting kicked out of school in the sixth grade, he ended up incarcerated for much of his life. This cycle fortunately shifted with his son, Anthony, after Robert got involved with Homeboy Industries. Robert credits Homeboy for helping him better himself and gain custody of Anthony. Robert stated that he thanks Father Boyle any chance he gets, “They made me the man I am today…Homeboy gives you that time to work on yourself to become the best version of yourself.”
Anthony Merjil also benefited from Homeboy Industries as he was able to gain a part-time job as a barista at Homegirl Café. He shared that his next step is to finish high school, something his father was extremely proud of. Anthony reinforced his father’s gratitude for Homeboy and Father Boyle, highlighting how important it is for youth to utilize the support Homeboy provides, “No matter how weird or embarrassing it may sound, accept the help and use it for what it’s meant for.”
The three men also shared their own opinions on gang intervention and rehabilitation. Robert conveyed how many assume gang members are unloving, violent, and selfish when this is not the truth in many cases: “I think that if you give someone the opportunity to show you their true colors, they will and you’ll learn they’re trustworthy, kind, helpful, and caring.”
Father Boyle explained that outsiders often propose rehabilitation methods similar to military peace efforts, assuming that simply bringing opposing gangs together will allow them to resolve their differences. “Others think it’s about conflict, but it’s not. It’s an issue of belonging; it’s about a lethal absence of hope.” Boyle said.
Gang violence or disputes are typically an indicator of something else going on in one’s life, not about a land or religion. Boyle suggests addressing this as a whole to see what happens to the violence.
Father Boyle believes mental illness, specifically in the justice system, needs to be more heavily discussed. After witnessing firsthand, the situation in downtown Seattle, Boyle encouraged how Prep should follow the Peace and Justice Week theme of “We are Each Other’s Keepers” in all aspects; “What does that mean in terms of those screaming guys last night? Are we their keepers if we ignore them? Are we their keepers if we say they can’t be out there?” Boyle said.
Father also spotlighted how involvement in social justice should not be forced, but welcomed, “It’s not indictment, it’s an invitation.” Shaming people into participating is ineffective; true engagement comes from a genuine desire to help and the joy that naturally follows.
Robert also wanted Prep students to take something from their visit. He affirmed the students for all the accomplishments they have made so far and went on to explain how students should be proud of themselves and take what they have learned so far into their years beyond Prep. Robert emphasized the importance of staying on track during the fundamental years of being a teenager, “No matter how important you might think it is, don’t let anything affect what you have going on.”
