NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Nashville judge has extended a temporary ban that precludes 16 young men from associating with each other in certain parts of the city.
The men are accused of being part of the Kurdish Pride gang and Metro Nashville wants them declared a public nuisance.
If that happens, they could be barred permanently from being together in public within a 1.4-square-mile "safety zone" south of downtown, where police say the Kurdish Pride gang operates.
At a Friday hearing on the issue, Judge Steve Dozier gave an attorney for the men additional time to prepare their cases. The hearing was rescheduled for Dec. 7.
Six others have received a permanent ban.
It is the first time in Tennessee that a city has used public nuisance laws to combat gang violence.