Sureno History Explained – Southern United Raza

The Sureno Mexican gang is a Los Angeles based street gang that has been in existence since the early 1970s. The gang was initially formed to protect Hispanic neighborhoods from African American gangs who were encroaching on their turf. Over time, the Surenos have become involved in a variety of criminal activities including drug dealing, extortion, and murder.

Surenos Identifiers
The Surenos are typically identified by their use of the color blue and the number 13. They also often identify themselves with certain symbols including the six-pointed star (or “hexagram”), the sombrero, and the Southern Cross. The Surenos will also often tattoo their bodies with these symbols as a way to show their allegiance to the gang.

Surenos History
The Surenos were formed in the early 1970s in Los Angeles as a way to protect Hispanic neighborhoods from African American gangs who were moving into the area. The name “Surenos” comes from the Spanish word for “southerners” and refers to the fact that the gang members are from Southern California. In the 1980s, the Surenos began to gain a reputation for violence and began to expand their territory throughout California. By the 1990s, they had become one of the largest and most powerful street gangs in Los Angeles.

The Surenos have been involved in a variety of criminal activities over the years including drug dealing, extortion, and murder. In recent years, there has been an increase in violence between the Surenos and another Los Angeles based street gang called MS-13. This increase in violence is believed to be due to turf wars between the two gangs as they compete for control of drug trafficking routes in Southern California.

Written by Don Julio