Shower Posse
Encyclopedia
The Shower Posse is a Jamaican posse
which is involved with drug and arms smuggling. Its home is in Tivoli Gardens
in Jamaica
, but it primarily operates in New York
, New Jersey
, Florida
, and Pennsylvania
, where it is one of the most powerful posses. There are differing reports on the origin of the name. One theory is that it comes from the promises of its associated politicians to shower supporters with gifts. Another view is that it is a reference to the gang showering opponents with bullets.
The gang has a strong international presence among expatriate Jamaican communities in North America. In the United States a branch was founded by Vivian Blake
and it had a prominent role in the New York City drug trade. The gang also has a large presence in Toronto
, Canada.
"In 1989, former Shower Posse member Charles “Little Nut” Miller was charged with drug trafficking but agreed to testify against other gang leaders in order to receive immunity. In his testimony – in which he implicated himself in nine murders - Miller revealed his connection to the JLP as a “political enforcer,” as well as to the CIA, going as far to state that “the United States made me what I am”(Newsweek, July 13th, 1998)."
began to demand that Christopher Coke
, the current leader of the Shower Posse, with extensive and well-known links to the Jamaica Labour Party, be extradited to New York, where he would face charges of smuggling drugs and weapons.
The prime minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding
, who is also the Minister of Parliament for that district, initially questioned the legality of the request, claiming that warrantless wiretapping had been used to collect information on Coke. However, he eventually relented, after public indignation to what many Jamaicans viewed as a cover-up to protect a politically-connected drug trafficker, and on May 17, 2010 an arrest warrant was issued for Coke, leading to a state of civil unrest within Kingston, and especially Tivoli Gardens.
Coke was eventually arrested at a checkpoint on June 22, 2010.
Jamaican Posse
Jamaican posses, often referred to simply as posses, are a loose coalition of gangs, based predominantly in Kingston, London, the New York City area and Toronto, Canada, first being involved in drugs and gun-running in the early 1980s...
which is involved with drug and arms smuggling. Its home is in Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens, Kingston
Tivoli Gardens, the political Garrison, is a West Kingston neighbourhood in Kingston, Jamaica. Tivoli Gardens has been the scene of confrontation between gunmen and security forces in 1997, 2001, 2005, 2008 and during the 2010 Kingston unrest. It is home to the alleged drug 'Don' Christopher Coke...
in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, but it primarily operates in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and Pennsylvania
Philly
Philly may refer to:Things related to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:*Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a city in the United States, nicknamed Philly*Philly , an American television series*Philly cheesesteak, a sandwich...
, where it is one of the most powerful posses. There are differing reports on the origin of the name. One theory is that it comes from the promises of its associated politicians to shower supporters with gifts. Another view is that it is a reference to the gang showering opponents with bullets.
The gang has a strong international presence among expatriate Jamaican communities in North America. In the United States a branch was founded by Vivian Blake
Vivian Blake
Vivian Blake was a Jamaican drug kingpin who founded and operated the American operations of the Jamaican Shower Posse....
and it had a prominent role in the New York City drug trade. The gang also has a large presence in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada.
"In 1989, former Shower Posse member Charles “Little Nut” Miller was charged with drug trafficking but agreed to testify against other gang leaders in order to receive immunity. In his testimony – in which he implicated himself in nine murders - Miller revealed his connection to the JLP as a “political enforcer,” as well as to the CIA, going as far to state that “the United States made me what I am”(Newsweek, July 13th, 1998)."
2010 Kingston conflict
In 2009 the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
began to demand that Christopher Coke
Christopher Coke
Michael Christopher Coke , also known as Dudus, is a Jamaican drug lord and the leader of the Shower Posse gang. He is the son of drug lord Lester Lloyd Coke...
, the current leader of the Shower Posse, with extensive and well-known links to the Jamaica Labour Party, be extradited to New York, where he would face charges of smuggling drugs and weapons.
The prime minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding
Bruce Golding
Orette Bruce Golding MP served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from 11 September 2007 to 23 October 2011. He is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party.-Biography:...
, who is also the Minister of Parliament for that district, initially questioned the legality of the request, claiming that warrantless wiretapping had been used to collect information on Coke. However, he eventually relented, after public indignation to what many Jamaicans viewed as a cover-up to protect a politically-connected drug trafficker, and on May 17, 2010 an arrest warrant was issued for Coke, leading to a state of civil unrest within Kingston, and especially Tivoli Gardens.
Coke was eventually arrested at a checkpoint on June 22, 2010.