Armenian Power
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Armenian Power | |
In | Los Angeles |
---|---|
Territory | Glendale, Hollywood |
Ethnicity | Armenian |
Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, murder, gang warfare, Drive-by shooting, theft, assault |
Rivals | White Fence 13, The Avenues (gang), MS-13 and Toonerville Rifa 13 |
Armenian Power, also known as AP, is an Armenian street gang located in Los Angeles.
[edit] History
The collapse of the Soviet Union prompted a massive wave of Armenian immigration into Los Angeles County, California in the early 1990s, primarily in the communities of East Hollywood, North Hollywood, Pasadena, and Glendale. Faced with pressure from Mexican and Salvadorean gang members in the area, young Armenians in East Hollywood grouped together to form Armenian Power.[1] Armenian-American street gangs are not large in terms of numbers but are violent and influential enough to allegedly be involved in Mexican Mafia peace talks between Hispanic gangs[citation needed]. The Armenian Power gang was a quickly growing gang in Hollywood and Glendale which formed partnerships with other gangs. [2] The gang's main enemies are Toonerville Rifa 13, The Avenues (gang) and MS-13. [3]
Armen Petrosyan was the founder and leader of Armenian Power, also known as Silent. [4]
“ | When 15- year- old Armen Petrosyan arrived in east Hollywood from Armenia in 1989, he was thrust into an urban environment where large, long- established street gangs-- in this case, Mexican American and Salvadoran-- often preyed on a smaller group of new immigrants. Outnumbered, Petrosyan and two friends formed a defense alliance that grew into the Armenian Power street gang.[5] | ” |
[edit] References
- ^ Violent Gang Is a Stain on a Proud Ethnic Community
- ^ In Dark Alleys - Page 17 by Brian St.Claire-King
- ^ The Glendale Police Foundation
- ^ Gang Violence Claimed Man Who Tried to Change; Crime: The conviction of his killer closes the final chapter in the story of a former Armenian Power leader who was slain in inter-ethnic strife. - Los Angeles Times
- ^ Gang Violence Claimed Man Who Tried to Change - Los Angeles Times