For Gangs, Tattoos Out; College Look In
By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA
Associated Press Writer
CHIMALTENANGO, Guatemala (AP) - Tattoos, baggy pants and tank tops are out. Smart blazers and university recruits are in. It's an extreme makeover for Central America's gangs. Facing harsh crackdowns by government security forces and citizen vigilante groups, they are trying to lower their profile.
The Mara 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs are known throughout Central America and the U.S. for their brazen tactics, including beheading their enemies and covering entire buildings and even their bodies with gang symbols.
Now, according to anti-gang operatives, these traditionally uneducated and aimless youth have begun recruiting high school and college students, and are expanding their criminal repertoire from minor robbery to large-scale extortion, prostitution, car theft and kidnappings.
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This has started in Guatemala and will no doubt spread to the U.S. (if it hasn't already). The purpose of this thread is to call your attention to the information so you can stay aware of changes involving gang members and activities.
One of the few "good" things about gangs was that you could often pick them out by their style of dress... until Rap and Hip-Hop music made baggy clothes a popular style for the younger generation. Tattoos were also a symbol and now these are likely to go "undercover" too.