Sureños

From Rap Dictionary

The Sureños (Spanish for "Southerners") are a group of Mexican American street gangs with origins in the oldest barrios of Southern California. There are hundreds of Sureño gangs in California, and each has its own identity on the streets. Although they are based in Southern California, their influence has spread to many parts of the US and other countries as well.

The gang's alleged roots came from a jail discussion between the Mexican Mafia (La EME) and Nuestra Familia (NF). Those who sided with La EME aligned themselves in the south (sureño=southerner) while those that sided with the NF aligned themselves in Northern California (norteños-northeners). Norteños appear in the northern areas of California and parts of Washington and Oregon. Besides Southern California, Sureños can be found in more than 30 states (primarily in southwestern and central states), throughout Mexico, most Central American countries, as well as some South American countries.

While increasing in influence and power throughout the years, the Sureños hiearchy is relatively unorganized, and has made enemies, such as the Green Light Maravillas, a smaller gang that broke off in order to resist paying taxes to the Sureños. Sureño gang members often use the number 13 as gang identification, as the letter "M" is the 13th letter of the English alphabet to show their alliance with "La eMe" or otherwise known as the "Mexican Mafia". Sureños represent themselves with symbols and phrases such as "Sur 13", "Los Sureños" and "Sureño Trece". These indentifications are accompanied by the color navy blue & gray, numeric code of number 13 and the Roman numeral of XIII. Gangs operating under the Sureños umbrella include the MS-13, Florencia 13 and the Tortilla Flats.