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What does the 13 in MS-13 mean?

Question #93342. Asked by wwiivarn.
Last updated May 28 2021.

Related Trivia Topics: Vocabulary  
neelie_447
Answer has 9 votes
neelie_447
17 year member
338 replies

Answer has 9 votes.
The number 13 is an homage to the Los Angeles gang "Los Emes" or "The Ms" (M being the thirteenth letter of the alphabet).
The number 13 is homage to the Los Angeles gang "Los Emes" or "The Ms"(M being the thirteenth letter of the alphabet). The gang was set up in Los Angeles in 1980's by Salvadoran immigrants in the city's Pico-Union neighborhood. The majority of the gang is ethnically composed of Salvadorans, Hondurans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans. Their activities have caught the eye of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who in September 2005 initiated wide-scale raids against suspected gang members, netting 660 arrests across United States. ICE efforts were at first directed towards MS-13, in its Operation Community Shield. In May 2005, ICE expanded Operation Community Shield to include all transnational organized crime groups and prison gangs. ICE's Operation Community Shield has since arrested 7,655 street gang members.
link https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mara%20Salvatrucha


Response last updated by gtho4 on May 28 2021.
Mar 09 2008, 12:17 PM
MonkeyOnALeash star
Answer has 10 votes
Currently Best Answer
MonkeyOnALeash star

Answer has 10 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
I know many a Mara Salvatrucha. Yes. I do.

The 13 is significant of Life and Death and NOT the 13th letter of the alphabet.

The Los Emes took the letter "M" as their name BECAUSE it IS the 13th letter and signified the Life and Death aspect of their By Laws and Credo.


Here is a more realistic view of MS 13: (who give "another" aspect or reason behind the name)

link http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/6-common-misconceptions-ms13-gang

Response last updated by shuehorn on Aug 26 2016.
Mar 09 2008, 6:25 PM
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zbeckabee star
Answer has 8 votes
zbeckabee star
Moderator
18 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 8 votes.
SalvadoreƱos, some have noted, join whatever set {X4}{X3} they want, but the gang Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) is sureƱa identified since it was founded in Pico Union LA, thus the 13 identifier after MS. However, MS 13 never wears red and does not align themselves with Mexican Mafia - which is the founder of 13 sur, and are sworn enemies of the biggest LA gangs 18th Street as well as the oldest East LA gang White Fence.

link http://www.insightcrime.org/el-salvador-organized-crime-news/mara-salvatrucha-ms-13-profile


Response last updated by shuehorn on Aug 26 2016.
Mar 09 2008, 7:16 PM
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