LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Latin Kings: Gangs
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The Latin Kings are an offshoot of a gang founded by Hispanic immigrants living in Chicago in the 1970s. It spread to other U.S. cities and has a large branch in Ecuador.
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The Latin Kings and many other Latino gangs have their roots in the Puerto Rican experience in Chicago. Historian Mervin Mendez explains the origins of the first Puerto Rican gangs in Chicago, and relates the history of one of them, the Young Lords Organization. In this interview with Ralph Cintron and Erika Rodriguez for gangresearch.net, Cha Cha Jimenez discusses the YLP history. A news story relates the final arrest of ALKQN leader Gino Colon.
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[A] member of the Latin Kings who was not arrested accused the police of singling out the group. The gang member, King Sinner, said that he and about a dozen other men, including Mr. Fernandez, had driven to Brooklyn in three cars. Mr. Fernandez wanted to drop in on some ''hermanitos,'' or little brothers -- younger gang members -- who had missed a few meetings. Afterward, King Sinner said, the men were planning to go to a party nearby.
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When compared to most street gangs, the Latin Kings are generally more structured and organized. The gangs rules are strictly enforce and some members celebrate January 6th as "King's Holy Day" and the first week in March as "King's Week."
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Most of the Latin Kings are proud of their gang affiliation and will display this pride by wearing a Latin King tattoo or other gang identifier. The main identifying paraphernalia of the Latin Kings is the color of their clothing, black and gold. Additionally, they may wear beads which are black and gold; the beads, worn around the neck, may be less frequently observed than the actual wearing of black and gold clothing. The colors, black and gold, have long been associated with this gang. The ALKN uses black and gold in graffiti. They wear the colors in their clothing, and the colors are represented at the gang's funerals.
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Moreno-Taxman said Wednesday the Latin Kings divided the world into two groups: "people" and "folks." Gangs considered "people" used symbols incorporating five points; gangs considered "folks," or flakes, in the derogatory language of the Kings, use six-pointed symbols, she said.
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