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Tonya Papanikolas ReportingGang detectives are educating Utah's second largest school district about followers of a rap group. It's the same group we first told you about -- Insane Clown Posse. Police link some of their fans, called "Juggalos" to recent crimes.
While educators are now requesting more information, several Juggalos contacted us to tell their side of the story. The Granite School district says it's had five fighting incidents attributed to Juggalos since school started this year. One of those was extremely violent. But Juggalos we talked to say those people aren't following the true message behind the music.
Many lyrics from the Insane Clown Posse are pretty violent, but the question law enforcement is facing: are those who follow the rap group, known as Juggalos, doing violent acts in the name of the group? And should they be classified as a gang?
Det. John Lefavor, West Valley Police Department: "We come in contact with the violent ones, taking reports of assaults and things of that nature."
Last year an anonymous fax was sent to the West Valley police department saying a Granger High school student was planning to kill a teacher and students. When police searched the boy's house, they found guns, a hit list and Juggalo paraphernalia.
James Day, Juggalo: "I think the kids that are doing that are misinterpreting the music."
James Day is a self-pronounced Juggalo. He says the band actually encourages followers to become better people.
James Day, Juggalo: "In the unveiling, the last song on 'The Wraith,' they talked about how they tricked you into finding God. They want you to find God. That's what it's about."
Day says he's angry some Juggalos are giving the rest of them a bad name. The West Valley police department agrees. Detectives believe there are 3,000 to 4,000 Juggalos along the Wasatch Front. Out of that number, they say 15 percent just like the music, 70 percent follow the Juggalo lifestyle and 15 percent are what they would consider gang members.
Since the majority of Juggalos are in junior high and high school, this was an important message for Granite School District educators today.
Sue Sato, Granite School District Teacher: "To be more aware and watch it and watch for those signs to see if there's a violent component of that."
Julie Richards, Valley Junior High Prevention Specialist: "Get the appropriate interventions in to stop them from becoming violent cause that's what we don't want."
West Valley police told us that many of the violent Juggalos actually had gang ties prior to becoming fans of the Insane Clown Posse.
