Satanas
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Satanas or as it is also known, the almighty Ese Te Ese or STS, has been considered by many to be the oldest and original Filipino-American Los Angeles street gang.
[edit] History
Due to the gang's location and historical connection/cultural similarities between the two peoples, Satanas was noted in its early years for allying with many of its Chicano gang counterparts within their surrounding neighborhoods, with many of Ese Te Ese's older members and leaders or veteranos being fluent in Spanish or Caló. Numerous accounts of Los Angeles gang history have often placed both Pinoys and Chicanos side by side one another during various street wars. The alliance between the two brown peoples however, changed drastically mainly in part due to the rising Asian/Latino conflict that led to the deadly gang warfare that erupted between Asians and Hispanics in Long Beach in the 1980s.
Many Filipino gangs in some way claim roots to Satanas, gangs such as Demonios and Diablos (not to be confused with the older Mexican-American gang by the same name) originated amongst second generation STS members and younger siblings of individuals who were members of STS; and indeed, the founders of many other Filipino-American gangs were originally members of Satanas who had somehow either had a falling out with the group, or had the blessings to create a new chapter, or clika under the protection of Satanas. Ironically, many of these clikas, such as Pinoy Real(Gang), Sarzana (Gang), and Hellside Gang eventually became enemies of STS in subsequent generations. Rivals of Satanas include gangs of other races such as 18th Street gang, Mara Salvatrucha 13, Avenidas, Lemonwood and La Colonia Chiques as well as some of the other noted Filipino and Asian Gangs. Their primary rivals in the early 1990's were the BNG (Bahala Na Gang).
[edit] References
- Alsaybar, B.D. (1993). Satanas: Ethnography of a Filipino American street brotherhood in Los Angeles. Unpublished Master's Thesis, University of California at Los Angeles.