What changed?
Infiltration…that's what changed.
Clinton had not rose to power yet as far as POTUS, and Clinton was running the Dixie Syndicate.
When Clinton became POTUS, he and his cronies pushed to have all the other drug lords in the country killed or put in prison for the rest of their lives.
Then once the playing field was clean, the Clinton Syndicate (now with the power of the FBi and the C_A) was able to control most of the gangs in the country, therefor cementing any power and wealth gained from those illegal activities. Clinton played ball with Bush, Bush had already had a head start on eliminating the competition that these gangs were presenting. Clinton took it one step further, increased police presence and increased penalties for gang related crimes and illicit drugs.
So that's what changed…the Dems were able to infiltrate these gangs, and any attack on these gangs now is broadcast as being "racist". It is either starting to become or has become their sole lifeline to the tenants of power.