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The Latin King and Queen Nation, once the most dangerous gang in New York City, face resistance from the press, the city government and the police in their struggle to escape crime and become a Black Panther-style street political movement. (from £4.00)

"My brothers and sisters. . . it's time to go downtown.", Father Luis Barrios, speaking at a meeting of the Latin King and Queen Nation

In 1994, the Latin Kings, the largest and most powerful street gang in New York, became the Latin King and Queen Nation. They claim to have abandoned their criminal past and to be following in the footsteps of the Black Panthers and the Young Lords. A new film, BLACK&GOLD, provides a unique, inside look at the street gang's volatile attempt to transform itself into a political movement.

With over 3,000 members in New York, some see the Latin King and Queen Nation as the most important political voice to rise from the streets in decades. The NYPD does not agree, calling them a vicious gang with a PR campaign. One thing is certain, the City will never be the same when the Nation goes downtown.

In 1997 Big Noise films became the only media group ever given unrestricted access to the Nation. For two years they ran with the Kings and Queens in New York City, filming on the front lines of their everyday struggle for survival. BLACK&GOLD explores a reality that is too often reduced to a stereotype or a slogan. Its unblinking lens puts you at the center of a complex and controversial movement.

The Nation has been at the center of protests against police brutality. In 1995 the Nation formed an alliance with Mothers against Police Brutality and was instrumental in the arrest and trial of Officer Livoti for the murder of Anthony Baez. In the recent protests around the shooting of Amadou Diallo, the Kings and Queens were asked to perform security for Rev. Al Sharpton.

From the beginning the NYPD has questioned the sincerity of the Nation's political involvement, and has systematically worked to dismantle what they see as the most dangerous street gang in the City. Their efforts culminated in a spectacular midnight raid on May 15, 1998 when over 1,000 Federal and City agents simultaneously raided homes across the city making over 100 arrests in what was the largest coordinated FBI action since prohibition.

BLACK&GOLD lets you feel the tension inside the movement as it comes under fire from midnight police raids and assassination attempts. In the end it shows us both the black and the gold - both the fear and violence of the street and the fierce love inside the most dangerous movement in the City.

BLACK&GOLD was selected as an Encore Presentation at the Chicago Latino Film Festival, Best Documentary at the Deep Ellum Film Festival, won the audience award at the San Francisco Indie Film Fest and was an official selection at the New York Underground Film Festival, Berlin Beta Festival, Gijon Festival of International Cinema, Vistas Film Festival, Dallas Video Festival, Cinefestival.