I'm infinitely confused as to why people confuse gang affiliation with something as benign as jaywalking?

These violent gangs have all but ruined Los Angeles and god knows how many other cities. When will we, as a nation, finally stop having pity on people who CHOOSE to affiliate themselves with these groups and hold them responsible for being involved in a terrorist organization? We would not show sympathy for someone involved with Al-Qaida, so why do we tolerate the same behavior from these people that are involved in organizations that destroy American lifes every day?