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| name = Sureños
| name = Sureños
| image = Surenos tattoo.jpg
| image = Surenos tattoo.jpg
| caption = Gang's name tattooed on gang member's back.
| caption = Sureños tattooed on a gang member's back.
| founded on = 1960
| founded on = 1960
| founding location = [[Los Angeles, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| founding location = [[Los Angeles, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| territory = [[Southern California]], small presence in [[Central California]], and [[Northern California]], all southwestern states, some central states, some northwestern states, and some southern states
| territory = [[Southern California]], small presence in [[Central California]] and [[Northern California]], many southwestern states, some central states, some northwestern states, and some southern states
| years active = 1960s–present{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
| years active = 1960s–present{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
| ethnic makeup = [[Latino]] (mainly Mexican-American)
| ethnic makeup = multiethnic, but predominantly [[Mexican-American]]
| criminal activities = [[Murder]], [[drug trafficking]], [[extortion]], [[assault]], [[auto theft]], [[robbery]]
| criminal activities = [[Murder]], [[drug trafficking]], [[extortion]], [[assault]], [[auto theft]], [[robbery]]
| allies = [[Mexican Mafia]], [[Mara Salvatrucha]]
| allies = [[Mexican Mafia]], [[Mara Salvatrucha]], [[Mongols Motorcycle Club]]
| rivals = [[Norteños]], [[18th Street gang|18th Steet]], [[Bloods]], [[Crips]], [[Latin Kings]], [[Trinitarios]], [[Sombra Negra]], [[Dominicans Don't Play]]
| rivals = [[Norteños]], [[Fresno Bulldogs|Bulldogs]] [[18th Street gang|18th Steet]], many [[Bloods|Blood gangs]], many [[Crips|Crip gangs]], [[Latin Kings]], [[Trinitarios]], [[Sombra Negra]], [[Dominicans Don't Play]]
}}
}}


'''Sureños''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "Southerners") are a group of Hispanic street [[gangs]] with origins in the oldest [[barrio]]s of [[Southern California]]. There are hundreds of Sureño gangs in California, and each has its own identity on the streets.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Although they are based in Southern California, their influence has spread to many parts of the US and other countries as well.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} The gang's alleged roots came from a [[jail]] dispute between the [[Mexican Mafia]] (La EME) and [[Nuestra Familia]] (NF).{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} While those that sided with the NF aligned themselves in Northern California (norteños=northerners). Norteños appear mostly in the northern areas of California, but are also present in numbers in western states like Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Utah (they also have a small presence in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles). Besides [[Southern California]], Sureños can be found in more than 20 states (primarily in [[Southwestern United States|southwestern]], central states) and small presence in [[Central California]], and [[Northern California]]. The largest population of Sureños an be found in Southern California, specifically in [[Los Angeles County]], [[Orange County, California|Orange County]], [[San Diego County]], and the the [[Inland Empire, California|Inland Empire]] region. Norteños appear mostly in the northern areas of [[California]], and also in southwestern and central states.<ref name="isbn1-59884-125-4">{{cite book |author=Kinnear, Karen L. |title=Gangs: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues) |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, Calif |year=2008 |page= 192|isbn=1-59884-125-4 }}</ref>
'''Sureños''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "Southerners") is an loose confederation of different Hispanic street [[gangs]] that began in [[Southern California]]. There are hundreds of Sureño gangs in California, and each has its own identity on the streets.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} The confederacy's origins stem from a [[prison]] dispute between the [[Mexican Mafia]] and [[Nuestra Familia]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}. After the prison dispute, Hispanic gangs from Southern California sided with the Mexican Mafia under the Sureño confederacy , while Hispanic gangs Northern California sided with Nuestra Familia under the [[Norteños|Norteño]] confederacy. The Sureño influence and lifestyle has also spread to [[Northern California]] and many other parts of the US.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}. Sureño gangs can now be found in more than 20 states, and in other counties including [[Mexico]] and parts of [[Central America]]. The largest population of Sureño gangs can be found in Southern California, specifically in [[Los Angeles County]], [[Orange County, California|Orange County]], [[San Diego County]], and the the [[Inland Empire, California|Inland Empire]] region.


== History ==
== History ==

Revision as of 05:48, 23 December 2010

Sureños
Sureños tattooed on a gang member's back.
Founding locationLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active1960s–present[citation needed]
TerritorySouthern California, small presence in Central California and Northern California, many southwestern states, some central states, some northwestern states, and some southern states
Ethnicitymultiethnic, but predominantly Mexican-American
Criminal activitiesMurder, drug trafficking, extortion, assault, auto theft, robbery
AlliesMexican Mafia, Mara Salvatrucha, Mongols Motorcycle Club
RivalsNorteños, Bulldogs 18th Steet, many Blood gangs, many Crip gangs, Latin Kings, Trinitarios, Sombra Negra, Dominicans Don't Play

Sureños (Spanish for "Southerners") is an loose confederation of different Hispanic street gangs that began in Southern California. There are hundreds of Sureño gangs in California, and each has its own identity on the streets.[citation needed] The confederacy's origins stem from a prison dispute between the Mexican Mafia and Nuestra Familia.[citation needed]. After the prison dispute, Hispanic gangs from Southern California sided with the Mexican Mafia under the Sureño confederacy , while Hispanic gangs Northern California sided with Nuestra Familia under the Norteño confederacy. The Sureño influence and lifestyle has also spread to Northern California and many other parts of the US.[citation needed]. Sureño gangs can now be found in more than 20 states, and in other counties including Mexico and parts of Central America. The largest population of Sureño gangs can be found in Southern California, specifically in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, and the the Inland Empire region.

History

The term "Sureños” meaning Southerner in Spanish. Sureño (male) Sureña (female) are the basics on what they are separated by. They originated from Southern California prison and made their way through "barrios"(hoods/neighborhoods).The Sureños identify with the color blue which comes from days past when the prisons offered two standard colors of bandanas, blue and red. Their enemies are Norteños (Northerners) and have been at war since the beginning. The term was first used in the 1960s as a result of a California prison war between the Mexican Mafia (La EME) and Nuestra Familia (NF). This war resulted in a territorial division between gang members from norteño (northern) California who aligned with NF, and those from southern California aligned with La EME. As Eme members paroled to the streets, they were tasked with creating new cells to help facilitate more crime. In addition, paroled members explained the North versus South war occurring in prison to the young street gang members. The youngsters were told that when they did enter the prison system that they should align themselves with the other Surenos. The term Sureno was soon adopted by Hispanic street gang members throughout Southern California. Sureño gangs are easy to identify since they have a 13 at the end of the gangs name. Gangs like MS 13 are part of the Sureño family. Now, Sureños are located all over California, and making their way through Chicago.[1]

Sureños graffiti tag in Washington, D.C.

Symbols and culture

Sureño gang members often identify themselves with the number 13; to represent the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, the letter M. This is used to pay homage to the Mexican Mafia. Surenos will use the symbols Sur, XIII, X3, 13, and 3-dots in their graffiti and tattoos. In many parts of the country they will identify themselves with the color blue. Mexican Mafia members may have Sureno idenitifers as they were probably a Sureno gang member before being recruited into the Mexican Mafia.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tracy Press - Three men to stand trial on gang charges". Retrieved 2010-04-20.
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