TED Talks Daily The grassroots movement transforming public safety | Aqeela Sherrills
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Sep 16, 2025 Aqeela Sherrills, an urban peace activist known for brokering a historic 1992 gang peace treaty in Los Angeles, discusses his groundbreaking initiative, Scaling Safety. He emphasizes the importance of grassroots movements in transforming public safety by empowering local leaders. Sherrills reflects on the power of community-driven solutions and the need for collaboration to tackle violence. He also shares the personal impact of losing a child to gun violence, highlighting how vulnerability and collective action can foster healing and safety.
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Historic Gang Peace Treaty
- Aqeela Sherrills helped negotiate a 1992 peace treaty between the Crips and Bloods that ended a three-decade urban war in L.A.
- The treaty sparked celebrations, spread nationwide, and lasted for 12 years, dramatically reducing homicides.
Joining The Gang For Survival
- Sherrills describes joining a neighborhood gang for safety after attending many funerals as a teen in Jordan Downs projects.
- He frames gangs as surrogate families where only a small share engage in violent crime but all seek protection.
Violence Is Concentrated And Underserved
- Violence concentrates in low-income communities of color and those residents are far less likely to receive help.
- Sherrills argues that internal, community-led solutions are necessary because outsiders cannot stop these conflicts alone.