Latin Kings (gang)
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| The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation | |
| In | Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1940 - present |
| Territory | Chicago and NYC and Philadelphia |
| Ethnicity | Hispanic/Latino |
| Membership | 40,000-45,000 |
| Criminal activities | contract killing, drugs, murder, and robberies |
The Latin Kings are an American gang founded in Chicago in 1940, and active mostly in Chicago , New York City and Philadelphia.
The group was transformed in 1986 by Luis Felipe, who is known as King Blood, during his imprisonment in Collins Correctional Facility. Luis Felipe created the manifesto for the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN) based on teachings he had picked up from his time in Chicago, the "motherland." Felipe designated himself as Inca and Supreme Crown. In 1995 Antonio Fernandez is designated Inca and Supreme Crown of New York State and New Jersey, the ALKQN once again begin a transformation.[1]
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[edit] Chicago Latin Kings
The Almighty Latin King Nation first emerged in Chicago during the 1940s when several young Puerto Rican males organized into a club. Their goal was to help each other overcome the problems of racism and prejudice that newly arriving Puerto Ricans were experiencing. Their goal was to rise above the racism and to form an organization of "Kings" to better serve themselves and their communities. As time progressed, the group took a criminal path as its members became involved in violent crimes including murders, drug trafficking and robberies. Because of this unfortunate transition the Latin Kings rose to be one of the most feared and revered gangs inside and outside the penal system in the state of Illinois(often ordering "hits" against correctional officers, killing disobediant members and not hesitating to commit acts violence against rival gang members). The Latin Kings are the largest hispanic gang in Chicago and possibly the United States. Chicago Latin Kings promote Latino solidarity and also allow members of all races to join.
The Chicago Police Department estimates that there over 25,000 Latin King members residing within Chicago alone. The gang also has organized chapters in numerous states across the country. These gang sets are referred as to as "Chapters", with each reporting to an Inca and Caciqa. The head (or heads) of the entire criminal organization are known as "Coronas". Some of the characteristics that sets the Latin Kings apart from other gangs is they consider themselves to be a community-based organization. They preach Hispanic pride and all Latin Kings are encouraged to live in accordance with the principles of KINGISM (a moral driven awareness of social oppression and the desire to uplift their people to their rightful place: "amongst the thrones of Kings and Queens").During meetings members may recite the Latin King pledge, prayer and continually pledge to be prepared to stand against those who deny them. These meetings are often used by members to discuss recent events, dues, retaliation, position responsibilities and elections etc... When compared to most street gangs, the Latin Kings are generally more structured and organized. The gang's rules are strictly enforced and some members celebrate January 6th as "King's Holy Day" and the first week in March as "King's Week."
Luis Felipe was born and raised in Cuba. He immigrated to the United States in 1980 when Fidel Castro allowed people to emigrate from his country. He eventually settled in Chicago and became addicted to heroin. This addiction put him in regular contact with the Latin Kings in Chicago, of which he later became a member.
[edit] New York Latin Kings
To avoid imprisonment for his criminal activities he moved to New York City, where he was later convicted of killing his girlfriend, which he claims was a drunken accident. While in jail, he started the New York chapter of the Latin Kings which grew rapidly. Using hand written letters he gave members orders to kill enemies, as well as other Latin Kings, in order to preserve discipline. Felipe's gang was highly organized.
[edit] Street Gang: 1984-1995
From 1986 to the internal power struggle that erupted in 1994, the ALKQN would solidify its role as a gang, through crimes such as murder, racketeering and RICO Act charges.[1]
In 1991 Felipe was returned to prison after a short release for parole violations stemming from the receipt of stolen goods. Felipe would continue however to guide the ALKQN members who now totaled about 200 members both incarcerated and free. In 1994 with the rapid growth of the Latin Kings, an internal power struggle erupted and violence within the Kings ensued. Between June 1993 and February 1994, seven Latin Kings were murdered. Following the outbreaks of internal gang violence Luis Felipe and 19 others were charged with murder and racketeering, the indictments would end in 1995 with 39 Latin Kings and 1 Latin Queen indicted under the RICO Act.[1]
The details of the charges against Felipe would later become known. Felipe was charged with ordering the killing of William (Lil Man) Cartegena. Cartegena was taken to an abandoned Bronx apartment where he was strangled, decapitated, mutilated and his corpse set on fire. The murder allegedly due to Cartegenas failure to kill enemies quick enough, as well as theft from the organization.[2]
[edit] Reformation: 1996-
In 1996 following the trial of Luis Felipe, Antonio Fernandez who was recently blessed as the Inca and Supreme Crown of New York State and New Jersey, kneeled with other Latin Kings in front of the Federal District Court in Manhattan and is quoted as stating: It's time for a fresh start ... Now they can't hold our past against us. 1996 is believed to be the beginning of the ALKQN's transformation from a street gang to a "street organization." Latin Kings and Queens begin appearing en mass at political demonstrations in support of the Latino community. To further its transformation and efforts to legitimize, the organization begins to hold its monthly meetings (universals) at St. Marys Episcopal Church in West Harlem. At this time the membership of the Latin Kings is believed to have swelled to 3,000 incarcerated and 4,000 free. The monthly universals are drawing in an attendance of 500-600 regularly. Internal changes to the organization begin to take place as Fernandez amended the ALKQN manifesto to include parliamentary elections and new procedures for handling inter-organizational grievances and removing death as a possible punishment, replacing it with "vanishing," the act of being banished from the movement.[1]
For the ALKQN, 1997 begins with Felipe being sentenced to the harshest penalty passed down since World War 2, Felipe is sentenced to 250 years in prison, the first 45 to be spent in solitary confinement. The other 39 members were sentenced to an average of 20 years in prison for their roles in the crimes. The year would bring further legal troubles as Fernandez and 31 others are arrested in a raid in the Lower East Side and charged with disorderly conduct. The Special Commissioner of Investigation for Schools soon after charges the ALKQN with infiltrating the school system, a school security guard with five years of service is dismissed on charges of unprofessional conduct for his association. The year comes to a close with King Tone being arrested in December by the FBI for domestic abuse.[1]
The pending charges against Fernandez were dropped in early 1998. Following the release of Fernandez, a joint operation of the FBI, New York City Police Department (NYPD), Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), New York State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) comes to a close with the arrests of 92 suspected ALKQN members. The Latin King leadership insists over half of those arrested are not members. The operation, dubbed Operation Crown, cost the city over one million dollars and took 19 months to complete. Fernandez was released after four days on $350,000 bail, which was paid for by contributions from community members. Over half of the arrested were charged with misdemeanors, other were charged with weapons possession and drug dealing. Fernandez was eventually permitted, though on house arrest, to attend monthly universal meetings. It was during his time on house arrest that the Latin Queens underwent a shake up in leadership, dismissing many of the leaders in order to bring in more politicaly focused members.[1]
The Latin Kings during this period begin to gain legitimacy. First, Lolita Lebrón, the Puerto Rican nationalista heroine who was a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist, appointed the ALKQN to protect her during a demonstration in front of the United Nations. Following the UN demonstration, Rafael Cancel-Miranda, a Puerto Rican nacionalista who spent 25 years in federal prison, attended a monthly universal. Before years end, Adelfa vera, Puerto Rican activist, attended a monthly universal and was given sacred ALKQN beads by the present leadership. Adelfa was praised during the meeting and stated "These kids are hope for our liberation struggle. I can die in peace, because we found the continuation"[1]
In 1995 Fernandez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell and distribute heroin. In 1996 he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, which he is serving at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas and was placed in solitary confinement. He was eventually transfered again and placed in general population.
[edit] Latin Queens
The Latin Queens constituted the female half of the ALKQN. While originally the Latin Kings were only a male organization, it eventually began to absorb women and give them an equal share.[3]
The Latin Queen agenda is composed of self-respect, independence, family support, ethnic identity and self-empowerment. Seeking such goals has attracted a wide variety of females who had been drug addicted, victimized and or neglected by families, spouses and partners. Sociologists studying the Latin Kings and Queens have observed the different methods in which both groups attempt to "reclaim and regulate" their environments. The Latin Queens are believed to focus more on their private space issues such as home life and protection and nurturing of their bodies, as opposed to the Latin Kings, who are more concerned with loss of public spaces in their own communities.[3]
The evolution of the ALKQN has been viewed by outside sources as being assisted by the addition and greater role in which Latin Queens have played, exposing the ALKQN to a greater range of cross-class supporters than would have been possible prior to their integration.[3] In regions such as Spain, Latin Queens are helping to legitimize the ALKQN through integration with government sponsored programs. In Catalina, the 200 person Latin Kings and Queens tribe was designated as the Cultural Association of Latin Kings and Queens of Catalonia. The "cultural program" designation was bestowed through government sponsored programs to assist gangs with integration into society and is lead by Latin Queen Melody, Erika Jaramillo.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Brotherton, David C. (February 2004). The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation: Street Politics and the Transformation of a New York City Gang. Columbia University Press, xvi-xix, 158,159. ISBN 0231114184.
- ^ Richardson, Lynda. "Leader of Latin Kings Is Convicted in Slayings", New York Times, November 20, 1996.
- ^ a b c Ferrell (November 2004). Cultural Criminology Unleashed. Routledge Cavendish, 67-69. ISBN 1904385370.
- ^ Drago, Tito. "Latin Kings Gang a "Cultural Association" in Barcelona", Inter Press Service (IPS), September 21, 2006.
