18th Street gang

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The 18th Street Gang (aka Eighteen St.) is a Los Angeles-based Latino/Hispanic street gang . It is considered by many gang analysts to be one of the largest gangs in the United States in terms of membership. It is estimated that there are 8,000 to 20,000 members of 18th Street gang in Los Angeles County alone.^[1]^{[this source's reliability may need verification]}

The 18th Street gang grew out of an older Los Angeles gang, the Clanton 14 street gang (after the street that was their home base). In the 1940's, Clanton Street was changed to 14th Place due to the high number of Zoot Suit Pachucos 'hanging-out', as well as the war effort's need for simple addresses. The Clanton gang was active in Los Angeles for decades and comprised several generations of well-established Mexicans living in America; more recent Mexican immigrants and Chicanos that wanted to join Clanton were rejected. From these rejects the 18th Street gang was born.

The gang has since grown to be one of California's largest street gangs, with membership in the tens of thousands. Out of the this, it is estimated that about 60% of its members are illegal immigrants, according to a confidential report last year by the state's Department of Justice.^[2] While the majority of the gang's activities occur in Los Angeles, the gang is active throughout the United States and other countries, including Canada, Peru, Mexico, and El Salvador.

Members of the gang frequently tattoo "18", "DIESIOCHO", or "XV3" on their bodies (occasionally covering their entire bodies.) The gang is divided into five subsets or 'sides': North, East, South, West and South Central Los Angeles. Furthermore, each side has its own cliques or mini gangs. 18th Street members often fight several rival gangs, the most notorious of which is the MS-13.

The gang was recently documented in "Gangsters from 18" shown on the Crime Investigation Network.

The gang was featured in an episode of Numb3rs, in which they were name the 18th Street Mexicali. The gang was also referred to in an episode of Shark (TV series) as the 18th Street posse.

[edit] References

^ 18th Street Gang by Alex Alonso, accessed July 7, 2006
^ Southern California's Largest Gang Aims for Dominance, The Los Angeles Times November 1997