Signs, Symbols & Graffiti Gangs Signs, Symbols & Graffiti

Colors Gang colors have traditionally been shown with bandanas. This practice began in the California prisons, where inmates were issued a bandana as part of their clothing. Bandanas are treated as a flag by gang members, and are often given the same reverence that is given the American flag. Burning a rival gang member’s bandana is an ultimate act of disrespect. A bandana that is carefully folded (and possibly pressed with an iron) is a strong indicator of gang association, whereas a bandana crumpled in a back pocket is not.

Colors Bloods – Red Crips – Blue Latin Kings – Gold MS-13 – Blue/Black

Clothing Colors in other clothing may also indicate gang membership. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was common to see gang members literally head-to-toe in red or blue. This is far less common in 2009, when many gang members have gone “low pro” (low profile) to avoid the attention of law enforcement.

Clothing Colored clothing commonly used by gangs includes web belts, shoes, shoe laces, and ball caps. Manufacturers aid gangs by producing clothing in color combinations that gangs desire, going so far as producing professional sports team attire in non-team colors such as New York Yankees hats in black and yellow (for the Latin Kings).

Numbers All street gangs and many gang-like groups associate with certain numbers or use numbers to communicate with other gangs or groups. Numbers may have significance such as the location where the gang formed. Numbers may be associated with the Nation allegiance of a gang. Numbers may also represent the letters of the alphabet — a practice of nearly all street gangs and gang-like groups. 5 People Nation, Bloods 360 Latin Kings 666 Neo-Nazi groups XIII – MS-13 6 – Crips 187 Murder / death threat (all gangs)

Hand Symbols Hand signals are used by gangs as a means of communicating gang affiliation and/or as a challenge to rival gang members, called “throwing signs.”  These signals or signs are made by forming letters or numbers with the hands and fingers, depicting the gang symbol or initials.  By using these signals, the gang member can show to which gang he belongs and issue challenges to other gangs in the vicinity. "Throwing up" a gang sign with the hands is one of the most known and obvious forms of "claiming." It is used in many situations where other identifiers may not be possible or appropriate, and can also show that a gang member is in the area to "do business" as opposed to just passing through. http://www.chicagogangs.org/index.php?pr=HAND_MAIN Bloods

Graffiti If graffiti consists of bubble script and uses more than a single color of paint, it is most likely not gang-related. Consider strikingly angular letters, which are painted in one color and often combined with satanic or religious images, as probably gang-related. Latin Kings

Graffiti Numbers have meaning too. Sometimes the number stands for the letter in the alphabet and the location of the gang. Three digit numbers, 031 or 021 identifies the bloods. Two digit numbers like 13 & 14 signify a Hispanic gang. 187 = kill

Graffiti Note that two numbers preceded by N, S, E or W (north, south, east or west), represent directions or the gang's territorial orientation. Consider that an "S" that follows N, S, E or W typically means "side." "WS18" = West Side 18th Street gang, which is based in California.

Graffiti Interpret graffiti with crossed out letters or a series of numbers followed by a "K," which stands for kill, as a threat from a rival gang towards the gang specified in the graffiti.

Symbols Gangs can also be identified through symbols. Bloods – 5 point star Crips – 6 point crown with star Latin Kings – 5 point crown MS-15 – Devils horn/MSXIII Aryan Brotherhood – swastika/shamrock clover