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"
