United Blood Nation
Encyclopedia
The United Blood Nation, simply called the East Coast Bloods is primarily a street gang formed in 1993 within the New York City
jail system on Rikers Island
's George Mochen Detention Center. GMDC was used to segregate problem inmates from the rest of the detention center. Prior to this time period, the Latin Kings were the most prevalent and organized gang in the NYC jail system. The Latin Kings, a Hispanic Latino street gang, were targeting African-American inmates with violence. These African-American inmates, organized by some of the more violent and charismatic inmates, formed a protection group which they called the United Blood Nation, in imitation of the West Coast gang. Though they closely resemble the Bloods found on the West Coast, the United Blood Nation or Eastcoast Bloods is unaffiliated with them, and therefore didn’t originally share any of their rivalries or their allies. Several of the leaders of this recently created prison gang formed nine New Blood sets (Nine Trey Gangsters, One Eight Trey, Mad Stone Villains, Valentine Bloods, Gangster Killer Bloods, Hit Squad Brims, Blood Stone Villains, Sex Money Murder) to recruit in their neighborhoods across New York and New Jersey.
By 1996, thousands of members of the Blood street gang were establishing themselves as a formidable force among gangs and continued a steady drive for recruitment. At this time, the Bloods were more violent than other gangs but much less organized. Numerous slashings (razor blade or knife attacks) were reported during robberies and discovered to be initiations into the Bloods. This ritual became the trademark for the Bloods. Bloods recruited throughout the East Coast and began spreading their drug networks rapidly. Blood gangs can now be found across the entire East Coast of the USA, as well as further inland in the South and Midwest. They can also be found in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia
, Quebec
and Ontario
as well as in the United Kingdom
.
Bloods will burn an upside down triangular shape that resembles a dog paw on their upper arm. The three circular burns, usually from a marijuana joint
, can be found on a member of the Bloods. This is not practiced by the original West Coast Bloods. Some Bloods will have a tattoo of a dog, usually a bulldog, like the Mack Trucks
logo. Bloods will also use the acronym M.O.B. (Member of Blood) to identify themselves. This can be seen as a burn scar or sometimes a tattoo. These too are distinctive only for the United Blood Nation Eastcoast Bloods gang, and not their West Coast version. However, one similarity both coasts share the use of the color red, Atlanta Braves
, Atlanta Falcons
, Chicago Bulls
, Cincinnati Reds
, Philadelphia Phillies
, Boston Red Sox
caps and jerseys (they would wear), also both keep their bandanas or red flags to the right, and they would also wear Chuck Taylor All-Stars
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
jail system on Rikers Island
Rikers Island
Rikers Island is New York City's main jail complex, as well as the name of the island on which it sits, in the East River between Queens and the mainland Bronx, adjacent to the runways of LaGuardia Airport. The island itself is part of the borough of the Bronx, though it is included as part of...
's George Mochen Detention Center. GMDC was used to segregate problem inmates from the rest of the detention center. Prior to this time period, the Latin Kings were the most prevalent and organized gang in the NYC jail system. The Latin Kings, a Hispanic Latino street gang, were targeting African-American inmates with violence. These African-American inmates, organized by some of the more violent and charismatic inmates, formed a protection group which they called the United Blood Nation, in imitation of the West Coast gang. Though they closely resemble the Bloods found on the West Coast, the United Blood Nation or Eastcoast Bloods is unaffiliated with them, and therefore didn’t originally share any of their rivalries or their allies. Several of the leaders of this recently created prison gang formed nine New Blood sets (Nine Trey Gangsters, One Eight Trey, Mad Stone Villains, Valentine Bloods, Gangster Killer Bloods, Hit Squad Brims, Blood Stone Villains, Sex Money Murder) to recruit in their neighborhoods across New York and New Jersey.
By 1996, thousands of members of the Blood street gang were establishing themselves as a formidable force among gangs and continued a steady drive for recruitment. At this time, the Bloods were more violent than other gangs but much less organized. Numerous slashings (razor blade or knife attacks) were reported during robberies and discovered to be initiations into the Bloods. This ritual became the trademark for the Bloods. Bloods recruited throughout the East Coast and began spreading their drug networks rapidly. Blood gangs can now be found across the entire East Coast of the USA, as well as further inland in the South and Midwest. They can also be found in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
as well as in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Bloods will burn an upside down triangular shape that resembles a dog paw on their upper arm. The three circular burns, usually from a marijuana joint
Joint (cannabis)
Joint is a slang term for a cigarette rolled using cannabis. Rolling papers are the most common rolling medium among industrialized countries, however brown paper, cigarettes with the tobacco removed, and newspaper are commonly used in developing countries. Modern papers are now made from a wide...
, can be found on a member of the Bloods. This is not practiced by the original West Coast Bloods. Some Bloods will have a tattoo of a dog, usually a bulldog, like the Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks is an American truck-manufacturing company and a former manufacturer of buses and trolley buses. A wholly owned subsidiary of Renault Véhicules Industriels since 1990, Mack Trucks is currently a subsidiary of AB Volvo. The company's headquarters are located in Greensboro, North Carolina...
logo. Bloods will also use the acronym M.O.B. (Member of Blood) to identify themselves. This can be seen as a burn scar or sometimes a tattoo. These too are distinctive only for the United Blood Nation Eastcoast Bloods gang, and not their West Coast version. However, one similarity both coasts share the use of the color red, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
caps and jerseys (they would wear), also both keep their bandanas or red flags to the right, and they would also wear Chuck Taylor All-Stars
Chuck Taylor All-Stars
Chuck Taylor All Stars, or Converse All Stars, also referred to as "Chuck Taylors", "Converses", "All Stars", "Chucks" or "Cons", are canvas and rubber shoes produced by Converse. They were first produced in 1917 as the "All Star," Converse's attempt to capture the basketball shoe market...
.