Transcript MS-13: Mara Salvatrucha

MS-13: Mara Salvatrucha
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Allen Corporan
New York University
Adolescent Development Spring 2007
MS-13 headlines
 Body of a young woman who had
informed against her former gang
associates was found on the banks of the
Shenandoah river, repeatedly stabbed
and her head nearly severed (Flores,
2007).
 Gang members armed with machetes
hacked away at a member of the South
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Side locos, slicing off some of his fingers
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and leaving others dangling by a shred of
skin.
 A member of the 18th street gang was
pumped full of .38-caliber bullets, while
his female companion who tried to flee,
was shot in the back
 MS-13: a gang leader accused of
orchestrating a December bus bombing in
Honduras that killed 28 people.
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Deadliest gang in America
Those were some of the violent acts MS-13 are responsible for. MS-13 is
the most dangerous gang in America. It is composed of mainly
Salvadorians and other Central American. There is an estimated “8,000
to 10,000 members in 33 states in the US, out of 700,000 gang
members overall” (Flores, 2007). Also, there are “tens of thousands
more in Central America.” “It is considered the fastest growing, most
violent and least understood gang in America.
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History
MS-13 was started in Los Angeles in 1980 by Salvadorians who fled the
civil war because of constant attacks from Mexican and African
American gangs, these Salvadorians formed MS-13. Soon they were
exposed to violence and drugs, and sent to jail. While they were in jail,
the government provided them with teachers to give them education.
However, it backfired, the members took the education and used it
negatively to benefit the gang. They became more violent and powerful.
Because of this, they were deported back to Salvador. MS-13 took the
gang lifestyle and translated it into the most horrific murders in Central
America. States could not control them, so they kept growing and
became even more dangerous. Now, they have ex-militaries members
who had weapon training.
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Gang signs and tattoos
When the gang first started, they were into heavy metal
music. They were huge fans of Ozzy Osbourne, so
they borrowed their gang sign from the popular heavy
metal symbol. They form the classic devil horns with
their fingers. When one turns the sign upside down,
they form an M. Members have tattoos all over their
body that carry special meanings. They also use a
variety of hand signals to communicate with each
other. This is used when a silent attack is being
operated. This is called “stacking” (National
Geographic Explorer).
Gang signs and tattoos
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Initiation
If a male wants to become a
member, they have to go through a
process called “jumping in.” The male
becoming a member has to endure a
beating for no less than 13 seconds. Four
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Males as young as eight years old have
to go through this process if they want to
become members. It is very different for
females. They have to go through a
process call “sex in,” which they have to
have sex with whoever the gang choose
for them. Then, they become members of
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MS-13.
After initiation
After the initiation
process, the members
show you the 13 rules.
Four of the 13 rules are:
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 You have to go out and
recruit
 You have to go out and
kill
 Bring money in for the
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gang
 You have to prove you
toughness
First mission of a new member
New members as
young as nine
experience their first
shooting. New
members’ first mission
is to find a member of
rival gang and shoot
them at point range.
After that, you have
prove that you belong
to MS-13.
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The weapon of choice
Many of the Salvadorians had
experience using a machete
because they had to cut down
crops either in their homelands or
in the US, so many are skilled
with this object. As a result, it is
their weapon of choice. Even
though they have guns, and
knives, when want to send a
message, they use the machete
on their victims, and commit the
most horrific murder scene.
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Justice system
MS-13 has a justice system
to punish those members
who break the rules. This is
called “check courting.”
When member does
something wrong, they tell
them that they have to go to
a meeting. Then a group
beats the member to near
death. If the member calls
the police or any form of
authority, it will be MS-13’s
first priority to get them
killed.
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MS-13: A form of organize crime
MS-13 control different territories within the
areas they occupy. Every block they control
earns income for them. Every small business
in the streets is taxed by them, which allows
them to earn revenue. Every business in the
streets must pay MS-13 a protection fee.
Recently, they started taxing drug dealers for
the right to sell drugs in their territory. They
can take tens of thousands of dollars without
actually touching the drugs.
MS-13: A form of organize crime:
Drug business
MS-13 is a heavy
supplier of drugs.
They claim they have
anything anyone is
looking for: Crystal
methamphetamine,
cocaine, heroin,
marijuana, and any
types of pills that are
prescribe from
doctors.
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Conclusion and the future
MS-13 is spreading at a fast pace. Not only are they located in 33 states in the US,
and in most of Central America, but recently, traces of them have been seen in
Europe. Most of the gangs have started because of the unequal conditions in
inner-city communities. Immigrants start their own way of of achieving the
“American Dream.” Right now, there is nothing we can do to stop this gang or
solve this problem. Now, this is in the hands of the FBI, because this gang is
extremely overly strong for local authorities. However, future adjustments can be
done to prevent evolvement of gangs. Instead of deporting gang members, or
immigrants that are connected to gangs, programs should be developed in which
these individuals can prosper from. An alternative, for those who are criminals,
send them to jails that are occupied by other members. This way, it will hinder the
gang’s growth, because they have the potential of becoming the deadliest gang in
the Western hemisphere.
References
Berger, J. (2007, March). Prosecutors say ms-13 defendants are gang leaders. Gazette.Net. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from
http://www.gazette.net/stories/031507/prinnew192950_3233-.shtml.
Darnton, K. (2005, December 4). The fight against ms-13. CBS News.
Flores, A. (2007, March 28). The most dangerous gang in America. Newsweek.
http://www.adressa.no/multimedia/archive/00628/mara18-1_628721f.jpg. Retrieved
April 28, 2007.
http://www.carryingcapacity.org/images/weapons.jpg. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
http://www.elmorrocotudo.cl/tmp_images/7/noticia_340_normal.jpg. Retrieved April 28,
2007.
http://oliviervaunois.blogspirit.com/images/medium_20060105.fig0258_1.jpg. Retrieved
April 28, 2007.
References
http://www.providenceenespanol.com/uploaded_pictures/305_1.jpg. Retrieved April 28,
2007.
http://www.worldpress.org/images/20060331-honduras-gangs.jpg. Retrieved April 28,
2007.
http://pgx.sifoorian.com/v6/modules/Member_Albums/member/833237717ms13.jpg.
Retrieved April 28, 2007.
http://www.echonyc.com/~horn/restless/ms13.jpg. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/drugs/drugs.jpg. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
Ling, L. (Correspondent). World most dangerous gang [Television broadcast]. National
Geographical Explorer Channel.