Folk Nation
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The Folk Nation is an alliance of street gangs, based in the Chicago area[1], which has since spread throughout the United States and into Canada, specifically in the Midwest[2] and the South[3]. They are rivals to the People Nation.[4]
Within the Folk Nation alliance there are many gangs which all have their own unique colors, hand signs and organization. Many of these gangs have signed a charter to join the Folks alliance. It was formed on November 11, 1978, within Illinois Department of Corrections facilities. Soon afterwards, the People Nation was formed to counter the Folks alliance. Larry Hoover, leader of the Gangster Disciples gang, created the idea for the alliance and persuaded many leaders of large black, white, and Latino gangs from Chicago to join.
After a prosperous beginning in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, the alliance started to break apart in the early 1990s due to wars over money and drugs between fellow Folks gangs.
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[edit] Symbols
Gangs demonstrate their particular alignment by "representing" through symbols, colors, graffiti, hand signs and words. Representing also encompasses the left or right side of the body. Most Folk gangs represent using the six point star (see below), and identify to the right side (e.g., they wear hats or bandannas turned to the right). [4][5][6] Folks Nation gangs use the term "All Is One" to greet each other. Although in the past all of the Folks gangs represented using the pitchfork, currently it is primarily used by the Disciple gang nations (MLD, GD, SGD, YLOD, etc). Many Folk nations now paint the pitchfork down to disrespect a rival Disciple gang.
Not all of Folks Nation gangs use the 6 point star, for example the Imperial Gangsters and Insane Spanish Cobras do not use it in their symbols. The 6 point star is mainly used by Disciples gangs such as Gangster Disciples,Satan Disciples,Spanish Gangster Disciples,Maniac Latin Disciples and Young Latino Organization Disciples. Gangster Two Six also uses the Six point Star[5]
[edit] List of major gangs under the Folks alliance
- Gangster Disciples
- Black Disciples
- Spanish Gangster Disciples
- Satan Disciples
- Maniac Latin Disciples
- Imperial Gangsters
- Spanish Cobras
- La Raza Nation
- Gangster Two Six
- Latin Eagles
- Simon City Royals
- Harrison Gents
- Crips
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Florida Department of Corrections, Chicago Based Gangs, http://dc.state.fl.us/pub/gangs/chicago.html, retrieved 2009-07-15
- ^ FBI - Publications - Law Enforcement Bulletin - December 2001
- ^ FBI, The El Paso Division: A Brief History, http://elpaso.fbi.gov/history.htm, retrieved 2009-07-15
- ^ a b Kinnear, Karen L. (1996) Gangs: A Reference Handbook ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, California, p. 47, ISBN 0-87436-821-9
- ^ a b "Street Gangs — Chicago Based or Influenced: Folk Nation Sets" Gang and Security Threat Group Awareness, Florida Department of Corrections
- ^ McLean County Sheriff - Gang Intelligence Unit
