Aryan Brotherhood
Name of Group: Aryan Brotherhood (AB)
Other Names: AB, Alice, Alice Baker, Tip, Brand
Origin: The AB originated in San Quentin prison in 1976. Originally the gang was established to provide protection for white individuals from Black and Hispanic groups. Some of the original members of the AB had been members in a 1950's gang known as the "Bluebirds," and other names used were the "Diamond Tooth Gang" and the "Nazi Gang."
Ideology/Philosophy: The philosophical premise of the AB and its members consists of a mixture of ideologies of white supremacy German and Irish ancestry; over the years, AB has moved away from the Neo-Nazi philosophy, with group members identifying more with Irish ancestry and Norse/Viking symbolism and history. The AB has a "blood in-blood out" philosophy, meaning that members kill to gain admission and only are released from membership by their own death. Most members are apolitical and the group's primary orientation now is drug trafficking.
Membership Characteristics: While consisting only of white members, there are documented instances where AB members will associate with blacks (but not admit them to membership) when they are needed for drug and extortion transactions.
Before gaining membership, a recruit must prove his dedication by carrying out a murder of a person targeted for death by the AB. This ritual is called, "making your bones." Membership is considered to be for life; the only way out of the AB is by death, either natural or by the hands another (including an AB member).
Recruits must receive a unanimous vote from existing members. This often results in close association of numerous inmates who - while subscribing to the AB's tenets and having "made there bones" - are not actual members due to a failure to gain unanimous approval.
The AB is active both in prison as well as in communities. Members released from prison are expected to dedicate themselves to supporting members who are still incarcerated.
Leadership/Organizational Structure: From all indications, key decisions and murders must be approved by a "Commission" before being implemented. Members of the Commission communicate via correspondence routed through third parties in the community or during social and attorney visits. In addition, gang members are often "writted" to a single institution from other facilities under the guise of testifying in a court case, so they can hold a gang meeting.
Geographical Locus: The AB has it origins in California, but it has spread to numerous other locations, primarily through the prison experiences of the members.
Associated Organizations: Mexican Mafia; Hell Angels; limited association with the Manson Family and traditional crime families.
Antagonistic Organizations: La Nuestra Familia; Black Guerilla Family.
Typical Identifiers: See Below. Although members of the AB ordinarily wear numerous and varied body tattoos, the true AB tattoo is a shamrock, the letter AB, and three sixes. (Three sixes is not AB-specific, several gangs use it). Only members of the AB are permitted to wear the "brand" of the gang; individuals found to be wearing the tattoo without consent of the AB are subject to being murdered.
The AB has realized that prison administrators often identify gang members by their tattoos, and on occasions has instructed members to no longer wear them. As a result, many members have removed or disguised their AB tattoos or on occasion hide AB tattoos on the hairline or underarms.
Other Information: Many original AB members have been killed or have become protection cases and are separated from other gang members. Most of the AB-related violence in recent years has been directed at its own membership.
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ICQ #2811842