NEW YORK, NY May 30, 2007 —Last week in Bushwick, 32 young people were arrested as they headed to the wake of a man killed in what police claim was a gang-related incident. The controversial mass arrest continues to spark discussion about the best way to fight an up-tick in gang activity. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

REPORTER: Councilwoman Diana Reyna says the police from Bushwick's 83rd Precinct made the right call to take the group of young people into custody because of a recent escalation of gang related violence. She says the mourners wearing the t-shirt memorializing the shooting death of Donnell MacFarland could have been targeted themselves for gang related violence.

REYNA: This group of 35 kids wearing t-shirts with his face on it, word had it on the street that anybody who came with that t-shirt were going to be next.

REPORTER: Some of the young people who were arrested have alleged they were unfairly targeted by police. Police have said they were disorderly, that some of them wore gang colors and that at least one mourner walked on top of parked cars. The 83rd Precinct has seen an increase in gang-related crime and community members expressed concerns about the trend at a recent neighborhood meeting held by Kings County District Attorney Ed Hynes. For WNYC, I'm Bob Hennelly.