A menacing text message saying, "Oct. 21st starts gang initiation week they are rumored to try to kill 140 Woman.PLZ FORWARD This can save our women!" frightened some northern NJ students, but police say the so-called "Red October" gang initiation rites are an "urban legend." Newark police director Gerry McCarthy said, "Every Halloween, people were talking about gang initiation, but there is not a shred of evidence to prove that it's true." In NYC, gang initiation day is allegedly April 12.