Today I will just talk a little about the basics of gangs and their signs and symbols. Gangs are everywhere in our nation and are a growing problem. Almost every police department has a unit dedicated to this cause.

So what really is a gang? It is an organized group of three or more people with common names, signs, colors, symbols and who are involved in violent and/or illegal behaviors. Many of these members have a history of troubled family life. They have often been abused and not taught the value of human life. These individuals find acceptance and support in the gangs they join.

Here are some warning signs that you know someone who may be in a gang…

– hair/dress change new friends with the same hair/dress
– Reserved behavior about friends/activities. New interest in graffiti symbols.
– no explanation for changes in routine changes in places frequented
– suspicion of drug use due to changes in mood new discipline problems
– increased possessions such as money, hats and clothes
– phone threats to the family new fear of the police new sense of courage

However, you can do preventative work to prevent yourself from going too far with your child. Here are some tips…

– Insist on meeting with their friends and parents.
– Know where they are going, with whom, where and when they will return
– Set rules and enforce them.
– Promote legitimate interests outside the school

So what are some of these gangs? We will start with the Almighty Latin King Nation. They appeared in Chicago in the 1940s to support each other against racism and other social issues of the time. They’re still the biggest gang in Chicago. The original members were Puerto Ricans but now all races have evolved to join but are mostly made up of Spanish, Latvian, Italian, Portuguese, Mexican and South American.

What separates this group is that they preach Latino pride and some chapters have made a religion called Kingdism. They have meetings to recite their gang oath and pray to live up to Inca’s call. They also use these meetings to discuss gang retaliation, drugs, or breaking gang rules. This gang is more structured and organized than most other gangs. They also celebrate January 6 as “Día de Reyes” and the first week of March as “Semana de Reyes”. In his gang’s symbol, the five points of the crown represent love, respect, sacrifice, honor and obedience. This group is identified with the colors yellow or gold. The Chicago Police Department estimates that there are about 25,000 members in Chicago alone.

bloods:
This gang is primarily based in Los Angeles. They are one of the most well known gangs due to the wide media exposure in the 1980’s. This gang is no longer racially specific. They generally align with the People Nation. They are rivals of the Crips and often refuse to use the letter C in their writing. This gang started in 1971 and wears their colors (red) on the right side, such as red laces, a red belt, or a red bandana in the right back pocket.

potato chips:
This gang originated in Los Angeles in 1969. The Crips are established in 199 areas of Los Angeles. This gang aligns itself with the Popular Nation. This gang has also spread throughout the United States and is multiracial and extremely violent. They associate themselves with the color blue and refuse to use the letter B in their writing. They are also called “cuzz” and call themselves “blood killas”. They also wear British Knight (BK) tennis shoes.

MS-13 or Mara Salvatrucha originated in El Salvador but migrated to Southern California. This is one of the largest and most well-known gangs in the US today. They added all 13 to pay tribute to the California prison gang, the Mexican Mafia. They quickly became the most violent gang because their original members had experience training for guerrilla warfare. They can also be found in Honduras and Guatemala. In 2002, gang members boarded a public bus and executed 28 people, including children. Due to their homeland, they often have access to high-tech firearms and weapons, and often become involved in firearms trafficking. Many of these members cover themselves with tattoos. Members also wear blue Dodgers baseball caps with brown or blue Dickies and long-sleeved button-up shirts. They were also considered the most dangerous gang in the world by National Geographic.

Gangs in today’s society are growing, although some cells are declining in certain geographic areas due to changes in the economy and other social issues. Some gangs are worldwide and some are focused on the US All gangs are violent and involved in illegal activities. If you suspect gang activity in your area, contact 911 or your local police department.