Bloods
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Sokullu-Ulus
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{{otheruses4|the Los Angeles gang|blood tests (often abbreviated to "bloods" amongst health professionals)|blood test}}
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{{other uses|blood (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Criminal organization
| name =Bloods
| image =
| caption =
| founded =Summer of [[1972]]
| founding location =[[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| founded by = [[Pirus]], [[Black P. Stones|BPS]], Lueders Park Hustlers, Brims, Denver Lanes, Bishops joined forces
| years active =1972-present
| territory =[[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]; most big cities in the [[United States|U.S.]]
| ethnic makeup =Mostly [[African-American]]
| membership est =30,000-35,000
| criminal activities =[[Illegal drug trade|Drug trafficking]], [[robbery]], [[extortion]], [[murder]]
| allies =[[People Nation]], <br/>[[Latin Kings (gang)|Latin Kings]]
| rivals =[[Crips]], [[Folk Nation]] and [[Sureños]]
}}
The '''Bloods''' is one of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]]'s street [[gangs]]. They are identified by the [[red]] color worn by their members and their [[gang symbol]]. The Bloods are made up of various sub-groups known as "sets" between which significant differences exist such as colors, clothing, and operations. Since their formation the Blood gangs have branched out throughout the [[United States]], and have even influenced youth groups using the same name in Europe.<ref>{{cite journal
| author = Maxson, Cheryl L.
| year = 1998
| month = October
| title = Gang Members on the Move
| journal = Juvenile Justice Bulletin, U.S. Dept. of Justice
| url = http://www.streetgangs.com/academic/cmaxson_move.pdf
}}</ref><ref>{{cite video
| people = Prem
| title = http://player.omroep.nl/?aflid=4083483 PremTime
| medium = TV-Series
| publisher = NPS
| location = Amsterdam
| date = [[February 22]] [[2007]] }}
</ref>
== History ==
Starting in late 1971, the [[Avalon Gardens|Avalon Garden]] [[Crips]], [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]] Crips and various other Crip sets joined forces. They began to expand to non-Crip gang territories such as those controlled by The L.A. Brims, a powerful street gang that had been formed in [[1969]]. Due to the encroachments of the Crips, several gangs eventually became part of the Blood family, including the Bishops and [[Athens, California|Athens Park]] boys. The Denver Lanes also had conflicts with the Crips, but were outnumbered and eventually became unknown in California for some time. The [[Pirus|Piru Street Boys]], who presented a powerful force in [[Compton, California|Compton]], actually collaborated with the Crips prior to [[1972]], as the Crips had affected the [[pirus|Piru]] neighborhoods.
== Notes ==
*According to a [[Los Angeles Weekly]] profile, the Bloods generally refuse to use the letter ''C'' in words and names, often replacing ''C'' with ''B'' for Bloods or appending a ''K'', to form ''CK'', meaning crip killer.<ref>{{cite news
| firstname=Michael
| lastname=Krikorian
| url=http://www.laweekly.com/general/features/war-and-peace-in-watts-part-two/443/
| title=War and Peace in Watts
| org=LA Weekly
| date=[[July 14]] [[2005]]
}}</ref>
*For example, in March 2005, a Blood member in Sacramento accidentally greeted a Crip member with a Blood greeting: "Nothing, just kicking back being boo." The Crip drew a handgun and wounded the Blood and two bystanders. In affirming the Crip's conviction for three counts of attempted [[murder]] (and the ensuing sentence of [[life imprisonment|85 years to life]]), the [[California Courts of Appeal|California Court of Appeal]] (Third District) discussed the linguistic patterns of Crips and Bloods and then noted: "A Blood saying he was kicking back being 'boo' would be an appropriate greeting from one Blood to another, but an affront to a Crip because it addresses a rival gang member with a Blood greeting. It is especially insulting if done, as here, in public."<ref>''People v. Bragg'', [http://online.ceb.com/calcases/CA4/161CA4t1385.htm 161 Cal. App. 4th 1385, 1391] (2008).</ref>
*Bloods also wear their "colors" on their right side, often with bright red shoe laces, a red belt, or a red bandana in the back right pocket.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.streetgangs.com/|title=Street gangs}}</ref>
*An [[urban legend]] claims that the Bloods, as well as other gangs such as the [[Hells Angels]] practice an initiation ritual that involves driving at night with their headlights off and murdering the first motorist who flashes their own headlights at them.<ref>[http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/lightsout.asp Urban Legends Reference Pages: Flash Headlights Gang Initiation<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. In reality initiation usually involves committing a certain crime or crimes (sometimes five in homage to the "5 point star" of People Nation), or more often being "jumped in" for five seconds - getting beat up by other members in the gang. Sometimes being "blessed" in is another ritual, where a member hits the inductee full force in the forehead. Initiation rituals vary across regions, or even sets or the member being inducted.
== See also ==
* [[List of California street gangs]]
* [[Crips]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* Yusuf Jah, Sister Shah'keyah, ''UPRISING : Crips and Bloods Tell the Story of America's Youth In The Crossfire'', ISBN 0-684-80460-3
== External links ==
* [http://www.streetgangs.com/bloods Listing of Los Angeles based Bloods neighborhoods]
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{{Rampart Scandal}}
[[Category:Bloods| ]]
[[Category:1972 establishments]]
[[Category:Los Angeles area street gangs]]
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