Introduction to Law Name _________________________Mr. Morrissey

STREET GANGS — CHICAGO BASED OR INFLUENCED

PEOPLE NATION AND FOLK NATION

Background - The Seeds of the Alliances

Chicago street gangs emerged in the 1960's when a "youth group" called the Black P-Stone Rangers developed into a criminal organization.

The group's leader, Jeff Fort, united the leaders of some 50 area street gangs into a single organization, calling it the Black P-Stone Nation.The group was controlled by a 21-man commission, self-titled the "Main 21." The leaders projected the group as a socially conscious, self-help

organization that would help uplift themselves and their community.

As a result of this premise, the group sought and obtained $1.4 million in federal anti-poverty funds. These funds were then used to support the group's illegal activities. A federal grand jury uncovered the funds mismanagement and Jeff Fort was sent to federal prison.

The perceived success of Fort's Black P-Stone Nation resulted in the formation of many other street gangs, that claimed to be politically and socially motivated. Of the groups that surfaced, many dropped to a level of disorganization, while others developed into sophisticated, highly organized groups involved in prostitution, robbery, burglary, extortion, and drug sales.

Two very influential gangs, the Black Disciples, led by David Barksdale, and the Gangster Disciples, led by Larry Hoover, followed Fort's example and unified their gangs to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation.

Throughout the 1970's, the Black P-Stone Nation and Black Gangster Disciple Nation controlled the Chicago drug trade and

became bitter rivals expressing their anger by creating the bloodiest gang war in Chicago's history.

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The Emergence of Alliances

Many of the leaders and members of the Chicago gangs ended up in federal and state correctional facilities. The increased number of individual gangs created a need for immediate visual gang identification that would enable members to distinguish allies from enemies among the prison population.

During the 1980's, within the prison walls, gangs began separating into alliances. The two alliance names that emerged were the People Nation and Folk Nation.

All gangs that were originally aligned with the Black P-Stone Nation aligned with People Nation. Those that were originally aligned with the Black Gangster Disciple Nation aligned with the Folk Nation.

Many gangs or "sets," as they are called, are aligned with one of the two Chicago alliances. The more prevalent groups are shown below by alliance.

People Nation Sets Folk Nation Sets Black P. Stone Latin Kings Vice Lords Spanish Lords El-Rukns Bishops Gaylords Latin Counts Kents

Black Gangster Discipline Black Disciples Gangster Disciples La Raza Cobras Eagles Latin Disciples Maniac Latin Disciples Simon City Royals Spanish Gangsters Two Sixers

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Here are some basic traits these alliances have in common.

Mentality and Philosophy

1. The "All for One, One for All" philosophy poses a significant threat; members demand participation in assaultive behavior by all members who are present.

The one-on-one fight of the past now becomes a full disturbance.

2. "Code of Conduct" terminologies include: "Folk before family." "I will not let my brother fall to a knee." "All is All" and "All is Well" (People) "All is One." (Folk)

3. Incidents often occur over trivial matters that are viewed as disrespectful by rival members.

Striking through a rival's graffiti or painting it upside down. Drinking from a plastic cup belonging to a rival gang member. Showing rival's hand signs upside down or crossing out a rival's hand-signs

with another finger. Breaking rival's symbols.

Rules and codes of conduct such as those mentioned above must be strictly followed. Those members who choose not to participate in a gang activity are subject to disciplinary action or "violations."

Violations can range from a beating, by fellow members for a given period of time, to death. Violation orders are often written out and signed by ranking members of the groups at their facility.

Violence associated with these groups is often disciplinary in nature.

Documents

It is very common for Chicago-based gangs to maintain charters, constitutions, recruiting documents, and other STG-related written materials.

These documents are almost always in cryptic code or subliminally hidden in artwork. Coded messages can be communicated in letters and

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on the outside of envelopes. These items are considered contraband within prison systems and are confiscated and forwarded to the facility's STG coordinator.

Recruitment

Most Chicago-based STGs require their members actively and aggressively recruit. This has resulted in many Florida local street gang members joining these national gangs while they are incarcerated. Once released back into their Florida community, they remain loyal to the gang that recruited them at the facility.

Initiation

When people are chosen to join a Folk or People Nation group, they are required to go through an initiation process. The most common initiation seen both within and outside the prison is "The Line."

Prospective members are expected to walk between two lines of group members, while they are punched and kicked repeatedly. The prospective members are expected to walk to the end of the line on their feet. If they fall, they must start over, usually on another day, when the injuries have healed.

More dramatic accounts of initiation rituals include drive-by shootings, playing Russian roulette, and committing other criminal acts, including murder.

Graffiti

Graffiti is used by STGs to communicate with fellow members and rivals. It is considered the newspaper of STGs.

In a correctional environment, the messages communicated in graffiti can cause confrontational behavior among the groups.

As mentioned earlier, disrespect to rival groups and their members is accomplished by displaying rival symbols in a degrading manner. Degradation of

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symbols communicates hatred toward the rival group. This type of graffiti encourages retaliation, which can result in physical altercations.

The most effective method of preventing this activity is to quickly remove the signs/symbols in order to reduce the amount of recognition gained by the act.

Notify local authorities and request the removal of graffiti. Removal of all graffiti known to exist during the same removal effort is important. This will help to avoid the unintentional impression that one group's symbols are being given special consideration.

In correctional settings; Inmates are not provided cans of spray paint, so most of the graffiti is drawn using

writing pens, markers, and by scratching symbols in surfaces with rocks or other abrasive objects. Efforts are made to control the use of markers and disciplinary action is taken for possession of these items.

Photographs of the area are taken and forwarded to the Security Threat Group intelligence coordinator.

Alliance Symbols (Identifiers)

Each alliance has its own symbols, also known as identifiers. First, we'll look at People Nation identifiers, then Folk Nation identifiers. These symbols often appear in combination. For example, you'll see a star and a crown. This may reveal both the alliance and the individual gang, also known as a set.

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People Nation Identifiers

Symbols: crown; staff; crescent; dice; number 5; spanish cross; cholo; pyramid; glove; five point star; champagne glass; and bunny head.

Members of People Nation sets are known to use the following symbols:

Five-point star and champagne glass

Five-point crown example (from tattoo)

The number 5

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Pyramid

Cane and top hat

Crescent moons

In addition to these symbols, the People Nation groups also use left identifiers. For example they:

Form their hand signs with the left hand. Wear their hats cocked or tilted to the left. Roll up the left pant leg. May untie the left shoe. They rest their hand in the left pocket. Wear jewelry to the left.

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Folk Nation Identifiers

Symbols: Winged heart; devil's horns; dice; number 6; backwards swasticka; bent ear bunny head; sword; devil's tail; six point star; and pitch fork.

Members of Folk Nation sets use these symbols:

Pitchfork (from tattoo)

The 6-pointed Star of David is predominant amongst Folks more than any other symbol.

The star in part pays homage to Black Disciples founder David Barksdale.

Heart or heart with wings (from tattoo)

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Heart with horns and devil’s tail

The number 6

BOS or BOSS (Brothers of the Struggle or Brothers of the Strong Struggle)

Folk Nation group members use right identifiers to distinguish themselves from the People Nation groups. Right identification is displayed by the following:

Wearing articles of clothing to the right, such as caps, bandannas, and belt buckles.

Wearing jewelry to the right. Rolling up the right pant leg.

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