Special Sub-Topic: American Gangs and Hate Groups Click Here To Play: American Gangs and Hate Groups

The Latin Kings grew to be the largest and most violent street gang in New York in the 1990s. The gang was brought to New York by Latin King member Luis Filipe. In which city do the origins of the Latin Kings lie?

Chicago. The gang was founded in Chicago, Illinois in the 1940s with the original intent of fighting injustice against those of Hispanic origin. However, members soon became involved in crimes such as kidnapping, drug smuggling and murder. This was especially felt after the move to New York, headed by Filipe (aka King Blood), inciting a huge police crackdown which resulted in the arrest of many high ranking members of the group. Despite Filipe being incarcerated for much of his life he continued to influence many on the inside and outside with his teachings, thus causing the group to grow rapidly. In 1996, the new leader of the Latin Kings, Antonio "King Tone" Fernandez, attempted to create a new image of the gang, one which seemed more aligned to their original ideals. In the early 2000s the Chicago and New York chapters were relatively separate in their activities. Latin King members tend to wear yellow (gold), black and red and can be associated with symbols such as the pentacle and a number of crown designs.

Aryan Brotherhood is a white supremacist group which, though not particularly well organised, is known for their frequent and brutal racist attacks. In which infamous Californian prison was the gang founded?

San Quentin. The gang is thought to have been founded in the 1960s, spreading rapidly to many other prisons throughout the USA. Serving a jail sentence is a vital requirement to join the Aryan Brotherhood and much of their activity takes place in the prison walls. It is estimated that AB members make up 1% of jail population but are behind 18% of jail murders. The Aryan Brotherhood is closely aligned with other white supremacist groups such as the Nazi Low Riders. "Senior" members of the Brotherhood have to have served at least 5 years in the Low Riders' gang. These "senior" members are responsible for recruiting and educating new members about the ideologies of white supremacy. Members of the Brotherhood are associated with the typical white supremacist symbols such as the swastika and SS lightning bolt.

A direct parallel of the Aryan Brotherhood is the Black Guerrilla Family. The aim of this African-American gang is to eradicate racism and overthrow the US government. Which other well known African-American group was the Black Guerrilla Family's founder, George L. Jackson, a member of?

The Black Panthers. Aside from the parallel ideas of the two gangs (the Aryan Brotherhood and the Black Guerrilla Family) perhaps the biggest explanation for this rivalry is the fact that the BGF was also founded in California's San Quentin prison. The Black Guerrilla Family is one of the most politically orientated gangs in the USA and it demands intense loyalty from its members, who have to take a very strict death oath upon entry. The most recognisable symbols of the BGF are cross-swords, a shotgun and the image of a black dragon overtaking a prison tower.

Claiming to be the largest Hispanic brotherhood in central California this group took its name from the California State University at Fresno (CSUF) athletic teams. What name is given to this gang?

The Bulldogs. Another gang founded in the 1960s, the Fresno Bulldogs number between 5,000 and 6,000. Although usually seen as a fairly independent gang, the Bulldogs associate themselves with Nuestra Familia (another Hispanic gang), particularly when trafficking drugs. As well as this members often indulge in burglary, assault and homicide. Bulldog members can be identified by many symbols, including a range of their own T-shirts. Tattoos are also common, usually depicting bulldog jaws, the Huelga bird or the words "Brown Pride".

Gangs often make alliances and develop rivalries with other gangs. Perhaps the best known rivalry is that of the Los Angeles based gangs, the Bloods and the Crips. Which two colours best represent the two rival gangs?

Red and Blue. Blue is the colour most associated with the Crips and red, the Bloods (however Bloods sometimes wear brown, black or green). With such intense rivalry between the two gangs it is hard to believe they were once one. Gang warfare within the Crips led to death and bitterness. Many smaller factions broke away and in 1972 formed the Bloods. There are several ways of identifying Blood members, including dog tattoos (as members refer to each other as "dawg"), cigarette burns on the lower arm which form an inverted triangle and the tattoo M.O.B (Member of Blood). The rivalry between the Bloods and the Crips has become so intense that simply wearing particular sports clothing associated with the opposing gang can lead to getting shot.

Along with Raymond Washington, which man co-founded the Crips, a predominantly African-American gang?

Stanley "Tookie" Williams. Originally called the Cribs, the name gradually evolved to the Crips. The Crips are one of the largest American gangs with between 30,000 and 35,000 members. The sheer size of the Crips membership mean that the violence and drug activity generated is a massive burden on police resources. Crips refer to one another as "cuz" and often replace the letter B with the letter C when talking, in order to show disgust at their rival gang. Stan "Tookie" Williams was convicted in 1979 on four accounts of murder and spent the remainder of his life in San Quentin prison, before being executed in 2005.

This small New York gang, founded in the 1980s often lied to prospective members in order for the group to grow, before aggressively recruiting. Sharing its name with a South African tribe, what is the name of this gang?

Zulu Nation. Following the formation of the Zulu Nation, members told others that by joining they would be promoting Hip-Hop and parties. As the organisation grew, members accepted their role as gangsters and began to recruit aggressively, using literature from the Nation of Islam. The Zulu Ntion attempts to link itself with African symbols, wearing the colours red, yellow and green. They have rivalries with both the Bloods and the Crips.

By far one of the largest gangs in the USA was based in Chicago and was founded by David Barksdale in the 1960s. What is the name of this gang?

The Gangster Disciples. In 1974 Barksdale died as a result of his wounds from a 1969 shooting. Larry "King Hoover" Hoover and Jerome "Shorty" Freeman (who were second in command) then took over. Hoover and Freeman later split the gang into two separate gangs. Hoover led the Gangster Disciples and Freeman led the Black Gangsters. Under the leadership of Larry Hoover, the Gangster Disciples grew into Chicago’s largest street gang. Members of the Gangster Disciples often wear, black, white, silver and blue and communicate and recognise each other via hand gestures. Symbols of the disciples are often depicted as variations of the Star of David.

Mara Salvatrucha (commonly known as MS-13) is estimated to have over 100,000 members in the US. With many of its members trained in guerrilla warfare it is widely recognised as one of the most violent gangs in America. Which country that suffered civil war in the 1980s, do most of the members come from?

El Salvador. Since its creation in California and Washington DC, MS has expanded into Oregon, Alaska, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Canada, and Mexico. MS maintains active ties with MS members and factions in El Salvador. As well as the usual involvement in guns and drugs, MS members are often involved in smuggling stolen cars into Latin America. It has been estimated that 80% of cars driven in El Salvador were stolen from the US. MS gangs have developed a reputation of fearlessness in the face of law and are often involved in police shootouts. Although members previously covered themselves in tattoos, it has been reported that more and more are not getting tattoos in order to be less easily recognised for the crimes they commit.

The Phineas Priesthood is seen as one of the most extreme gangs in existence. The term "Phineas Priesthood" incorporates antisemitism, racial hatred and strong opposition to abortion. Which author's work, "Vigilantes of Christendom", apparently coined the term "Phineas Priesthood"?

Richard K Hoskins. Phineas Priesthood is not strictly an organisation as there are no rallies or meetings and no governing body. Instead one becomes part of it by adopting the beliefs and carrying out racial attacks, consistent with the ideal of the gang. Many members have been convicted of crimes including the murder of civil rights activists and doctors working at abortion clinics. There are a huge number of extremist groups in the larger cities of the US and it can be difficult to comprehend the logic (if any) behind their actions. Thank you for taking the time to find out about just a few of these gangs.