It has been often said, "Clothes makes the man." Clothing also, according to the style, color, and the manner it is worn, might indicate that the individual, a young man or a young female, is a gang member. Unfortunately, many of today's youths that are not connected with gang activity have adopted the same styles and manners of dress because it's "cool."

Youths today may be seen in groups on the streets, in school, in the mall, everywhere, all wearing similar types of clothing and hats with identical or similar colors. Does this mean that every youth dressed in this fashion is a gang member? Absolutely not!!!!!

If a youth wears a popular item of jewelry such as a six-point star, a five-point star, a crescent moon or a playboy bunny, does that mean he or she is a gang member? Again, absolutely not.

Wearing particular styles, types and colors of clothing, jewelry, shoes and other items, is not a positive indicator of gang affiliation. It is merely one of the indicators or factors to be considered when identifying gang members.

In many areas, particularly where gangs are constantly involved in turf wars, where drive-by shootings are a common occurrence, where persons are frequently assaulted or murdered, many of the victims were identified as a rival gang member because he or she was wearing clothes of a particular color. Occasionally, youths with no gang connections, have become targets or victims because they too, were wearing the wrong colors or clothes.

Efforts to mandate clothing standards by school personnel have failed miserably short of going to a school-wide uniform. In Bannister v Paradis (1970) a lower court ruled that the prohibition of clothing because of style and taste was unconstitutional unless such clothing imposed a danger to the health and safety of others or caused a disturbance or other disruption (Lane et al. 1994:64). There have been numerous other cases dealing with clothes: one arguing about skirt length -- Wallace V. Ford (1972), and another one dealing directly with the issue of gang attire Olesen v. Board of Education of School District No. 228 (1987). (Source: www.altenforst.de)

NOTE: It has been reported that some gangs are starting to change their clothing style by no longer wearing their colors in an effort to deceive law enforcement and conceal their gang affiliation

To learn about the significance of clothing, colors, jewelry and other items worn by gang members click onto the links below.

Professional and college sports teams clothing worn by street gangs.

The following information is an indicator as to how many gang members are using popular sports clothing to represent their individual gangs. Both professional and college teams are represented. It should be noted that the sporting of clothing does not always signify gang affiliation. This list was compiled to make the reader aware of possible gang involvement.  It should also be noted that street gangs have become aware of the fact that law enforcement uses the wearing of colors as an indicator of gang involvement.

Atlanta Braves: People- initial "A" for Almighty

Boston Celtics: Spanish Cobras - Colors - Green/Black

British Knights: Crips - initials "B" & "K" for Blood Killers

Burger King: Crips - initials "B" & "K" for Blood Killers

Charlotte Hornets: 4 Corner Hustlers - initials "C" & "H"

Charlotte Hornets: Imperial Gangsters - Colors - Black/Pink

Chicago Bulls: Vice Lords, Latin Counts, Mickey Cobras - colors -  Black/Red

Chicago Bulls: Black Peace Stone Nation - "Bulls" stands for "Boy You Look Like Stone"

Chicago Black Hawks: Vice Lords - Colors -  Black/Red

Chicago Cubs: Spanish Cobras - initial "C"

Cincinnati Reds: 4 Corner Hustlers - put a "4" next to the "C" and an "H" inside of the "C"

Colorado Rockies: Simon City Royals - sometimes place a white "S" in front of the "C"

Columbia Knights: Bloods - initials "C" & "K" for Crip Killer

Converse All Star shoe: People - five point star in the logo of label

Dallas Cowboys: People - five point star

Denver Broncos: Black Disciples switch "DB" for initials "BD"

Detroit Lions: Gangster Disciples - Colors -  Black/Blue

Detroit Tigers: Folks - initial "D" for Disciples

Detroit Tigers: Gangster Disciples - Colors: Black/Blue

Duke: Folks - Colors - Black/Blue; "Duke" = "Disciples Utilizing Knowledge Everyday"

Georgetown: Folks - initial "G" for Gangster

Georgetown Hoyas: Gangster Disciples - Colors: Black/Blue; "Hoyas" stands for "Hoover's On Your Ass" (Larry Hoover)

Georgia Tech: Folks - initial "G" for Gangster

Indiana University: Imperial Gangsters - initials "I" & "U" overlapping appear to make the shape of a pitchfork showing "Folks" affiliation

Kansas City Royals: Folks - Colors: Black/Blue

Kansas City Royals: Simon City Royals - "Royals"

LA Dodgers: Gangster Disciples - initial "D" for Disciples

LA Kings: Latin Kings - "Kings"

LA Kings: People - "Kings" stands for "Kill Inglewood Nasty Gangsters"

Los Angeles Raiders: Folks - "Raiders" stands for "Ruthless Ass Insane Disciples Running Shit"

Los Angeles Raiders: People - "Raiders" stands for "Raggedy Ass Iced Donuts Everywhere Running Scared": used to "Disrespect" Folks

Louis Vitton Cap: Vice Lords Initials "LV" reversed

Miami Hurricanes: People - Color -Orange

Michigan: Initial "M" for Maniac Latin Disciples

Minnesota Twins: Initial "M" for Maniac Latin Disciples

NY Yankees: Gangster Disciples Colors - Black/Blue/White

North Carolina Tar Heels: Folks - Colors - Black/Blue

Nike: Folks - Colors - Black/Blue

Oakland A's: Ambrose - initial "A" for Ambrose

Oakland A's: Orchestra Albany Initials "O" & "A"

Oakland A's: Spanish Cobras - Color - Green

Orlando Magic: Folks - "Magic" stands for "Maniacs  and Gangsters in Chicago"; Colors - Black/Blue represents numerous "Folks" gangs

Philadelphia Phillies: People - initial "P" for "People"

Phoenix Suns: Black Peace Stone Nation - initials "P" & "S"

Pittsburgh Pirates:  Colors - Black/Gold for Latin Kings; Bloods - Initial "P"; for Pirus (Bloods)

San Francisco Giants: Folks - switch initials for "Super Gangster Folk"

San Francisco Giants: Future Stones Initials "S" & "F" spelled backwards San Francisco (Any) Stone Freaks Initials "S" & "F"

St. Louis Cardinals: Spanish Vice Lords - red-colored hat

Starter Symbol: Folks - crack the five point star to disrespect the "People"

Starter Symbol: People - five point star

Texas Rangers: People - initial "T" looks like pitchfork pointing down

University of Illinois: Folks -  initials "U" & "I" together appear to be a pitchfork pointing up

University of Nevada at Las Vegas: (UNLV ) -Vice Lords Colors: Red/Black; "UNLV" backwards stands for "Vice Lords Nation United"

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