La Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13)

1. La Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13) Hugo Alfredo Barajas 11393409 Chicano/a Latino/a Studies 151

2. Thesis • La Mara Salvatrucha was created in the United States due to poverty, discrimination, lack of education and low paying jobs; however, the spread of these gangs began because of immigration, consequently spreading gangs into Central America and evolving them from street gangs into high criminal international organization gangs.

3. Questions I had • How does MS13 affect the Chicano Latino community? • How was the gang created and what factors went in to the creation of the gang? • How has it evolved and formed itself? • What is the identity it has formed itself? • What has it adopted from previous LA gangs? • Why should we as a community be concerned about gangs? • What should we do? • Who is to blame the chicano Latino Cummunity or the U.S?

4. How does MS13 affect the Chicano Latino community? • Young children and teens are being influenced by gangs and when they join MS13 they are making a lifetime long commitment that the only way out is death. • “Sangre Afuera, Sangre Adentro” (Ling) Only way in to get into MS13 is to spill blood. • Jester became a member by age of 8 (Ling) • Criminals by the time they are adults • High drop out rates, murders, violence, drugs, prison • Drugs; crystal, cocaine, crack cocaine, weed and pills (Ling) • Kill trespassers that go onto their turf • Impact on people within the community • Taxing people within the community (Ling) • Makes it more difficult for our people to reach the American dream

5. How was the gang created and what factors went in to the creation of the gang? • In the 1980’s El Salvador and Guatemala were facing a Civil War within the Guerrillas and the Government. Due to the fact that many people were dying many people migrated to the North. (Franco 6-7) • 300,000 Salvadorians went to Los Angeles because of their lack of education and the work (Franco 7) • Los Angeles were constantly being harassed by the Mexican street gangs in the area • Salvadorians formed together their own clique (Mara Salvatrucha Stoners) (Ling) • Recruited veterans from the Salvadorian Civil War. (Stiles 108). • These veterans knew how to use combat action and they came from El Salvador where violence and death was a norm at the time. • Alliances with the Mexican Mafia (Mara Salvatrucha MS13)

6. How has it evolved and formed itself? • Drugs. • Drugs; crystal, cocaine, crack cocaine, weed and pills (Ling) • Working with the cartels Gangs help the cartels by murdering people and transporting drugs, as reward MS13 members may be paid by getting 10% of the shipments (Stiles 111) • Violence • . Today the Mara’s can be seen involved in drug extortion, transporting across borders, murders, kidnappings and prostitution (Stiles). • International • 38 states in the United States and 24 in Mexico. • Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala (stiles)

7. What is the identity it has formed itself? • Ruthless violent people and known as the worlds .most dangerous gang

8. What has it adopted from previous LA gangs? • Language • New generations use Calo, Street Spanish mixed with English • Style: Innovation of the Pachuco style  now has a more street style Today’s gangs can be seen wearing clothing such as Dickies pants which are in a sence almost like dress pants. To me that is an innovation of original zoot suits

9. Who is to blame the Chicano Latino Community or the U.S? • The United states is to blame for the problem our communities face today. If the U.S had not had a history of racism, discrimination and unequal rights gangs would have never been created. Gangs are only created to find a way out of the mess people live in. • The U.S insured the growth of the gang’s by trying to get rid of their problem by deporting them back to their hometowns. This caused the spread of gangs. • It is estimated that about half a million immigrants were deported between 1991-2006 and of those, 80% were from Latin America (Stiles 108) • The impact it had was that in today’s society there are estimates of between 75-85,000 members in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador (Stiles 109). • 60 % of the murders in Honduras are gang related since 2012 (Boraz and Bruneau 3).

10. Why should we as a community be concerned about gangs?What should we do? • Our people are being terrorized and I feel like the only way to stop this is by giving Latino and Chicano families options. • More jobs. With more jobs comes more opportunities • More funding for education within communities where minorities attend school. • More restorative programs to give young kids better education and trust for the criminal justice system. • The focus of the criminal justice system should be to help not punish people.