Unmasking the Shadows: Cerise Castle on Deputy Gangs and Justice

Strangest Fruit

Join us on the latest episode of the Strangest Fruit Podcast as one of the most important journalists of our generation, Cerise Castle, sits down with Didontae Farmer. Produced by Heardstudio @heardstudio Cerise Castle is a Los Angeles-based journalist specializing in arts & culture, civil rights, criminal justice, and human interest stories. She is renowned for writing the first history of deputy gangs inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and for creating, producing, and hosting “A Tradition of Violence,” a podcast detailing the history and criminal activity of these gangs. Her groundbreaking reporting earned her the 2022 International Women in Media Foundation’s Courage Award, the American Journalism Online Award for Best Use of Public Records, and the American Mosaic Journalism Prize. In 2024, Castle was a Poynter Fellow at Yale University. Castle has produced and hosted segments for the Emmy-award-winning nightly news program, VICE News Tonight, NPR, and the nationally syndicated radio program Marketplace. She has also produced podcast series for Audible, iHeartMedia, and Wondery. Her reporting and commentary have been featured in ABC, Autre, Capital & Main, The Daily Beast, The Los Angeles Times, The LAnd, Los Angeles Magazine, MTV, National Public Radio (NPR), Salon, and Vanity Fair. Tune in for an insightful and revealing conversation that dives deep into Cerise Castle’s impactful work and the vital issues she covers. Don’t miss this compelling episode! 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking discussions and interviews. 👍 Like this video if you found it informative. 💬 Comment below with your thoughts and questions. #CeriseCastle #StrangestFruitPodcast #Journalism #CivilRights #CriminalJustice #Heardstudio

Welcome back to the Strangest Fruit Podcast! In this episode, we have the honor of hosting the remarkable journalist, Miss Cerise Castle. Join us as we dive into her compelling life story and her groundbreaking work exposing deputy gangs within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

From her challenging childhood in California to her journey in journalism, Cerise opens up about the experiences that shaped her and the pivotal moments that led her to uncover the hidden truths about law enforcement. Discover how a high school teacher's unexpected ultimatum set her on a path to Emerson College and beyond.

Listen in as Cerise discusses the deputy gangs, including the notorious Linwood Vikings and the 3,000 Boys, and their impact on communities. Learn about her relentless pursuit of truth and the personal sacrifices she has made to bring these stories to light.

This episode is a deep dive into the systemic issues within law enforcement, the power of journalism, and the ongoing fight for justice and accountability. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that sheds light on the dark corners of our society.