Peggy Wilson, a Holladay resident, held up a newspaper report of the arrest this week of 50 illegal immigrant gang members, expressing her frustration that the gang issue sometimes seems to devolve into racism.

"Every time people look at us, the first thing they think is gang member," she said. "Our skin color is a result of where we come from, nothing more, nothing less."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Parkinson said the effort is simply a pro-active approach to get gang members off the streets.

"Victims of crime don't care who is being taken off the streets." he said of the joint local and federal effort at combating gang violence.

Yapias said the group plans to ask the Utah Office of Ethnic Affairs to organize a statewide Latino community council. He had originally called for such a council on the city level, saying the existing neighborhood community councils don't reflect ethnic diversity.

"We need to take greater responsibility for the problems we're seeing in our community," Yapias said. "We need to look at this from a community point of view. We need to say 'enough."'

However, Clara said, Yapias' idea could create an even more racially divisive situation.

"There is no reason to create a community council based on skin color," Clara says. "It becomes a wedge issue."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com