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Herbert Asbury's book the gangs of New York should not be blamed for inaccurate facts in the 2002 movie. His book "The French Quarter, America's Wickedest City" was research by myself some years ago. I had assumed that the book was 90% dramatised fiction. I WAS 100% WRONG ! Instead I was stunned to discover that the book indeed was true even to the smallest details. This was totally unexpected by myself. I also learned that in the mid 1920's Asbury went about New Orleans talking to older people asking them if they remembered any events that they thought as worthy of mention for his new book. He took notes and then went to the Picyune Newspaper morgue to get the reported facts. I suspect if he was that accurate on that book, it is likely that his others were also pretty well founded in truth. I would hesatate to doubt Asbury now that I realize how carefully he bothered to document his work......Louie Orduna

David Brotherton is at best naive. His statement that the Latin Kings do positive things for the Puerto Rican Community best illustrates that. The Latin Kings indoctrinate vulnerable youth into their cult/gang and make thugs and criminals out of them.

from HBO's site about their documentary

Latin Kings: A Street Gang Story

America Undercover sheds light on the shadowy world of what was perhaps the country's largest and most formidable gang. "King Tone", leader of the Latin King Nation of New York State, publicly espoused Puerto Rican nationalism as he attempted to convert the gang into an organization that helped the lives of the impoverished. However, the reality of the gang, as captured on surveillance tapes, included murder, kidnapping, drug dealing and assault.