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

So what is really a gang? It is an organized group of three or more people with common names, signs, colors, symbols and who engage in violent and / or illegal behavior. 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 change / dress up new friends with the same hair / dress

– reserved behavior about friends / activities new interest in graffiti symbols

– no explanation for routine changes change in hangouts

– suspected drug use due to changes in mood new discipline problems

– increased possessions such as money, hats and cloth

– phone threats to family new fear of police new sense of courage

However, you can do some prevention work to keep your child from going that far. Here are some tips …

– He insists on meeting his friends and parents.

– Know where they are going, with whom, where and when they will return.

– Establish rules and enforce them

– Fosters legitimate interests outside of 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 problems of that time. They are still the largest gang in Chicago. The original members were Puerto Rican, but now all races have evolved to join, but they 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’s promise 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 “Holy Day of the Kings” and the first week of March as “Week of the Kings.” In the symbol of his gang, the five points of the crown represent love, respect, sacrifice, honor and obedience. This group is identified by the colors yellow or gold. The Chicago Police Department estimates that there are about 25,000 members in Chicago alone.

Bloods:

This gang is mainly based in Los Angeles. They are one of the best known gangs due to extensive media exposure in the 1980s. 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 handkerchief in the right back pocket.

Crips:

This gang originated in Los Angeles in 1969. The Crips are established in 199 areas of Los Angeles. This gang lines up with Folk Nation. This gang has also spread throughout the United States and is multiracial and extremely violent. They associate 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.

The MS-13 or Mara Salvatrucha originated in El Salvador but migrated to southern California. This is one of the largest and best known gangs in the United States today. They added all 13 to pay tribute to California’s prison gang, the Mexican mafia. They quickly became the most violent gang because their original members had experience in 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 firearms and high-tech weapons and are often engaged in firearms trafficking. Many of these members cover themselves with tattoos. Members also wear blue Dodgers baseball caps with tan or blue Dickies and long-sleeved button-down 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 all over the world and others are concentrated in the United States. All gangs are violent and involved in illegal activities. If you suspect gang activity in your area, contact 911 or your local police department.

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