Latin Kings
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| Founding location | Chicago |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1940 - present |
| Territory | United States, Latin America and Spain |
| Ethnicity | Latino |
| Membership | 50,000 in the United States Alone |
| Allies | People Nation, Nortenos , Bloods |
| Rivals | Folk Nation,Crips, Surenos |
The Latin Kings are said to be the oldest, largest, and most organized Hispanic street gang, which has its roots dating back to the 1940s in Chicago, Illinois. Latin King documents reveal a man by the name "Gino Gustavo Colon" (a.k.a. Lord Gino) is considered the "SUN" of the Almighty Latin King Nation in Chicago and has been for a long time. Latin King headquarters is located on Beach and Spaulding in Northwest Chicago. Luis Felipe (a.k.a. King Blood) started his own chapter of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation with the permission of his superiors in Chicago, the "motherland." He designated himself as Inca and Supreme Crown of New York State. In 1995 Antonio Fernandez (a.k.a. King Tone) was designated Inca and Supreme Crown of New York State and New Jersey, and the ALKQN once again began a transformation.[1][2]
Chicago Latin Kings
The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN, ALKN, LKN) is the largest Hispanic street gang in the United States. Unlike MS 13 and 18 street--whose great portion of gang membership exists in Mexico, Central and South America--the Latin Kings have a heavier presence within the United States. The ALKN has nearly thirty thousand members in the city of Chicago, with another ten to fifteen thousand members in the surrounding suburbs. They also have organized chapters of Latin Kings in over 38 states and several Latin American and European Countries: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Dominican Republic, Canada and Italy. Latin Kings are mostly of Latino descentt--with some African American, White, Asian and Middle Eastern members as well.
The Almighty Latin Kings first emerged in Chicago during the 1940s when several young Puerto Rican males organized into a club. Their goal was to help each other overcome the problems of racism and prejudice that newly arriving Puerto Rican immigrants were experiencing and to serve as a vanguard for their communities. As time progressed, the group's members became involved in crimes including murder, drug trafficking, robberies and other organized criminal activities.
In their beginnings, when they were not great in size, their brutal history and propensity for violence distinguished them from other gangs in Chicago--making them equal players with the larger Black "Super Gangs", such as the Gangster Disciples, the Almighty Vice Lord Nation and the Black P. Stones. They also played an equal role in the formation of the People Nation.
Gang Markings
The Latin King colors are Black and Gold and gang markings usually consist of a 5 or 3 point crown; writings of LK, ALK, ALKN, ALKQN abreviations (or the whole words); and drawings of the Lion and the King Master. Latin King symbolism is usually accompanied with name and number of the chapter, region or city of the gang. The Latin Kings are of the People Nation, and therfore, represent everything to the "left"--in opposition to the "right", which is representative of the "Folk Nation".
Culture
The Latin Kings have organized sets in numerous states across the country. These gang sets are referred as to as "Chapters" or regional "tribes", with each reporting to an Inca, Caciqa, and regional officers. The head (or heads) of the entire criminal organization are known as "Coronas".
One of the characteristics that sets the Latin Kings apart from other gangs is they consider themselves to be a community-based organization. Because of their apparent contradictions, it is often debated about whether they are a criminal organization or a positive force in the community (as they have obviously taken on both roles at different points in time, as well as simultaneously). For example, in 2000 there were approximately 1600 self-admitted Latin Kings in the Illinois prison system, and these accounted for over half of all the recorded violent acts on prison personnel and other inmates, making the ALKN the most violent prison gang in Illinois (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fiscal Report, 2000).
But their "apparent contradictions", some may argue, may be better understood when viewed through the lens of the Latin King's teachings. Once a member of the Almighty Latin King Nation, according to the Latin King Manifesto, a member naturally passes through three stages of consciousness:
(1) the Primitive Stage, wherein the neophyte member is expected to be “immature†and to be involved in such activities as “gang-banging†and being a street “warrior†without the full consciousness of Kingism ;
(2) the Conservative or Mumm Stage, which is where a member tires of the street gang life but is still accepting of “life as it has been taught to him by the existing system that exploits all people of color—dehumanizes them and maintains them under the conditions and social yoke of slaveryâ€;
and (3) the New King Stage, where the member “recognizes the time for revolution is at hand. Revolution of the mind! The revolution of knowledge! A revolution that will bring freedom to the enslaved, to all Third World people as we together sing and praise with joy what time it is: it is Nation time!â€
Kingism
The Latin Kings teach Latino pride and all members are encouraged to live in accordance with the principles of KINGISM (a moral driven awareness of social oppression and the desire to uplift their people to their rightful place: "amongst the thrones of Kings and Queens"). The Latin Kings operate under strict rules and guidelines that are conveyed in a lengthy constitution and follow the teachings of the ALKQN Manifesto, which was written by highly intellectual Latin Kings (these documents are referred to as the "King Manifesto/Constitution" or "KM/C" for short). In this manifesto you can find traces of Marxism, Christianity, Confucianism and other revolutionary/historical world-views which when combined make up the ideology and morality of "KINGISM"--which is centered around the upliftment of the poor (the "Oppressed Third World People") and the struggle against the oppressive social, political and economic existing order of things.
To begin their meetings, members may face the East, which is where the sun rises, and recite one of the various Latin King prayers to Yahve (The Almighty Father and King of Kings) and pledge to be ever faithful to the Nation. These meetings are also used by members to discuss recent events, dues, retaliation, position responsibilities and elections, etc. When compared to most street gangs, the Latin Kings are generally more structured and organized. The gang's rules are strictly enforced and some members celebrate January 6th as "King's Holy Day" and the first week in March as "King's Week."
New York Latin Kings
To avoid imprisonment for his criminal activities in Chicago, Luis Felipe moved to New York, where he was later convicted of killing his girlfriend, which he claimed was a drunken accident. While in jail, he got permission from his superiors in Chicago to start the New York chapter of the Latin Kings which grew very rapidly. Using hand-written letters, he gave members orders to kill enemies, as well as disobedient Latin Kings, in order to preserve discipline. Felipe's gang was highly organized.
Street gang: 1984-1995
From 1986 to the internal power struggle that erupted in 1994, the ALKQN would solidify its role as a gang through crimes such as murder, racketeering, and RICO Act charges.[2]
In 1991 Felipe was returned to prison after a short release for parole violations stemming from the receipt of stolen goods. Felipe would continue however to guide the ALKQN members who now totaled about 2000 members both incarcerated and free. In 1994 with the rapid growth of the Latin Kings, an internal power struggle erupted and violence within the Kings ensued. Between June 1993 and February 1994, seven Latin Kings were murdered. Following the outbreaks of internal gang violence Luis Felipe and 19 others were charged with murder and racketeering, the indictments would end in 1995 with 39 Latin Kings and 1 Latin Queen indicted under the RICO Act.[2]
The details of the charges against Felipe would later become known. Felipe was charged with ordering the killing of William (Lil Man) Cartegena. Cartegena was taken to an abandoned Bronx apartment where he was strangled, decapitated, mutilated and his corpse set on fire. The murder allegedly due to Cartegenas failure to kill enemies quick enough, as well as theft from the organization.[3]
Reformation: 1995-
In 1996 following the trial of Luis Felipe, Antonio Fernandez who was recently blessed as the Inca and Supreme Crown of New York State and New Jersey, told his people to look for Nicole in Pennsylvania, and kneeled with other Latin Kings in front of the Federal District Court in Manhattan and is quoted as stating: It's time for a fresh start ... Now they can't hold our past against us. 1996 is believed to be the beginning of the ALKQN's transformation from a street gang to a "street organization." Latin Kings and Queens begin appearing en mass at political demonstrations in support of the Latino community. To further its transformation and efforts to legitimize, the organization begins to hold its monthly meetings (universals) at St. Marys Episcopal Church in West Harlem. At this time the membership of the Latin Kings is believed to have swelled to 3,000 incarcerated and 4,000 free. The monthly universals are drawing in an attendance of 500-600 regularly. Internal changes to the organization begin to take place as Fernandez amended the ALKQN manifesto to include parliamentary elections and new procedures for handling inter-organizational grievances and removing death as a possible punishment, replacing it with "vanishing," the act of being banished from the movement.[2]
For the ALKQN, 1997 begins with Felipe being sentenced to the harshest penalty passed down since World War II, Felipe is sentenced to 250 years in prison, the first 45 to be spent in solitary confinement. The other 39 members were sentenced to an average of 20 years in prison for their roles in the crimes. The year would bring further legal troubles as Fernandez and 31 others are arrested in a raid in the Lower East Side and charged with disorderly conduct. The Special Commissioner of Investigation for Schools soon after charges the ALKQN with infiltrating the school system, a school security guard with five years of service is dismissed on charges of unprofessional conduct for his association. The year comes to a close with Fernandez being arrested in December by the FBI for domestic abuse.[2]
The pending charges against Fernandez were dropped in early 1998. Following the release of Fernandez, a joint operation of the FBI, New York City Police Department (NYPD), Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), New York State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) comes to a close with the arrests of 92 suspected ALKQN members. The Latin King leadership insists over half of those arrested are not members. The operation, dubbed Operation Crown, cost the city over one million dollars and took 19 months to complete. Fernandez was released after four days on $350,000 bail, which was paid for by contributions from community members. Over half of the arrested were charged with misdemeanors, other were charged with weapons possession and drug dealing. Fernandez was eventually permitted, though on house arrest, to attend monthly universal meetings. It was during his time on house arrest that the Latin Queens underwent a shake up in leadership, dismissing many of the leaders in order to bring in more politically focused members.[2] The Latin Kings during this period begin to gain legitimacy. First, Lolita Lebrón, who was a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, appointed the New York State ALKQN to protect her during a demonstration in front of the United Nations. Following the UN demonstration, Rafael Cancel-Miranda, a Puerto Rican nacionalista who spent 25 years in federal prison, attended a monthly universal. Before years' end, Adelfa Vera, Puerto Rican activist, attended a monthly universal and was given sacred ALKQN beads by the present leadership. Adelfa was praised during the meeting and stated "These kids are hope for our liberation struggle. I can die in peace, because we found the continuation"[2]
In 1998 Fernandez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell and distribute heroin. In 1999 he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, which he is serving at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas and was placed in solitary confinement. He was eventually transferred again and placed in general population.
Latin Queens
The Latin Queens constituted the female half of the ALKQN. While originally the Latin Kings were only a male organization, it eventually began to absorb women and give them an equal share.[4]
The Latin Queen agenda is composed of self-respect, independence, family support, ethnic identity and self-empowerment. Seeking such goals has attracted a wide variety of females who had been drug addicted, victimized and or neglected by families, spouses and partners. Sociologists studying the Latin Kings and Queens have observed the different methods in which both groups attempt to "reclaim and regulate" their environments. The Latin Queens are believed to focus more on their private space issues such as home life and protection and nurturing of their bodies, as opposed to the Latin Kings, who are more concerned with loss of public spaces in their own communities.[4]
The evolution of the ALKQN has been viewed by outside sources as being assisted by the addition and greater role in which Latin Queens have played, exposing the ALKQN to a greater range of cross-class supporters than would have been possible prior to their integration.[4] In regions such as Spain, Latin Queens are helping to legitimize the ALKQN through integration with government sponsored programs. In Catalonia, the 200 person Latin Kings and Queens tribe was designated as the Cultural Association of Latin Kings and Queens of Catalonia. The "cultural program" designation was bestowed through government sponsored programs to assist gangs with integration into society and is led by Latin Queen Melody, Erika Jaramillo.[5]
References
- ^ "The Almighty Latin Kings Nation (ALKN)". Retrieved 15 December 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g Brotherton, David C. (2004). The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation: Street Politics and the Transformation of a New York City Gang. Columbia University Press. xvi–xix, 158, 159. ISBN 0231114184.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|nopp=ignored (|no-pp=suggested) (help) - ^ Richardson, Lynda (November 20, 1996). "Leader of Latin Kings Is Convicted in Slayings". New York Times.
- ^ a b c Ferrell (2004). Cultural Criminology Unleashed. Routledge Cavendish. pp. 67–69. ISBN 1904385370.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Drago, Tito (September 21, 2006). "Latin Kings Gang a "Cultural Association" in Barcelona". Inter Press Service (IPS).