Venice Shoreline Crips
Encyclopedia
The Venice Shoreline Crips (VSLC) are a black American street gang
located in the Oakwood section within Venice
, a district of Los Angeles
, California
.
The gang dates back to the 1970s, being one of the earliest Crip
gangs and one of the most dangerous street gangs on the Los Angeles Westside. It was amongst the first black gangs to fight gang wars against Mexican
street gangs, notably the Venice 13
and Culver City Boyz
gangs in the 1990s and is allied to the N-Hood crip alliance though the feud with some of its gangs.
and racism
in Venice's Oakwood neighborhood, which was originally labeled as a "servant's zone" by Venice founder Abbot Kinney and one of the few places within a mile of California's coastline where blacks could own property. Due to restrictive covenants that enforced racial segregation
, Oakwood was set aside as a settlement area for blacks and the population increased rapidly as hundreds moved to Venice to work in the oil fields during the 1930s and 1940s. Into the 1950s, the City of Los Angeles had neglected Oakwood so much that it became known as "the ghetto by the sea" with unpaved narrow streets leading to run down bungalows, many of which lacked foundations. While unemployment soared with the closing of the oil fields, the 1960s brought drugs and racial tensions to Oakwood and gang membership began to rise among the already established Venice 13 gang. Inspired by the Black Power Movement and after a series of militant black riots in Venice in the late 1960s the Shoreline Crips were founded alongside some of the original Crip gangs formed by Tookie Williams and Raymond Washington
in South Central Los Angeles. In the 1980s as crack cocaine
was introduced and gangs began focusing more on money rather than their original politics, the Shoreline Crips became heavily involved in the narcotics business in Oakwood and on the Venice Boardwalk as well. Leading into the 1990s gunfire was heard nightly as the Shorelines warred with rival Culver City 13 after Shoreline cliques were pushed out of the Mar Vista Gardens projects. Shortly after, Oakwood exploded as a war broke out between the Shorelines and Venice 13 over control of the Venice drug trade until a cease-fire was arranged between the two gangs. In the 1990s, gentrification
hit Oakwood when newly arrived white
homeowners took residency in and around the area, causing Los Angeles to combat the gang problem. Although even after a series of raids, injunctions, and other measures against them, the Shorelines have maintained a steady control over their territory with their numbers ranging in the several hundreds.
through the Mexican Mafia
and the war eventually ended with a cease-fire negotiated between V13 and the Shorelines in exchange for a new community center in the Oakwood neighborhood.
, Santa Monica 17th St, 18th Street
and the Culver City 13
. The gang has also been known to feud with the Rollin 40's Crips, Rollin 60 Neighborhood Crips
, Grape Street Watts Crips, Graveyard Gangster Crips, and all Blood gangs
.
The war with the Culver City Boyz spilled into the lives of many not affiliated with gangs as bystanders and parents began being shot at on a regular basis.
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
located in the Oakwood section within Venice
Venice, Los Angeles, California
Venice is a beachfront district on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half mile pedestrian-only promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors...
, a district of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The gang dates back to the 1970s, being one of the earliest Crip
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
gangs and one of the most dangerous street gangs on the Los Angeles Westside. It was amongst the first black gangs to fight gang wars against Mexican
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
street gangs, notably the Venice 13
Venice 13
Venice 13 is a Mexican American street gang based in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice, a section of Los Angeles, California, with a substantial presence in East Venice as well as the Culver City/Los Angeles border, especially around Washington Blvd.The gang dates back to the 1950s, and has long...
and Culver City Boyz
Culver City Boyz
Culver City Boyz is an infamous Mexican American street gang primarily in western Los Angeles, California, including pockets in Culver City. Their traditional home is the Mar Vista Gardens, which is Los Angeles' westernmost largest housing project in the HACLA system...
gangs in the 1990s and is allied to the N-Hood crip alliance though the feud with some of its gangs.
History
The Venice Shoreline Crips formed out of the extreme povertyPoverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
in Venice's Oakwood neighborhood, which was originally labeled as a "servant's zone" by Venice founder Abbot Kinney and one of the few places within a mile of California's coastline where blacks could own property. Due to restrictive covenants that enforced racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
, Oakwood was set aside as a settlement area for blacks and the population increased rapidly as hundreds moved to Venice to work in the oil fields during the 1930s and 1940s. Into the 1950s, the City of Los Angeles had neglected Oakwood so much that it became known as "the ghetto by the sea" with unpaved narrow streets leading to run down bungalows, many of which lacked foundations. While unemployment soared with the closing of the oil fields, the 1960s brought drugs and racial tensions to Oakwood and gang membership began to rise among the already established Venice 13 gang. Inspired by the Black Power Movement and after a series of militant black riots in Venice in the late 1960s the Shoreline Crips were founded alongside some of the original Crip gangs formed by Tookie Williams and Raymond Washington
Raymond Washington
Raymond Lee Washington was the original founder of the South Central Los Angeles street gang the Crips....
in South Central Los Angeles. In the 1980s as crack cocaine
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
was introduced and gangs began focusing more on money rather than their original politics, the Shoreline Crips became heavily involved in the narcotics business in Oakwood and on the Venice Boardwalk as well. Leading into the 1990s gunfire was heard nightly as the Shorelines warred with rival Culver City 13 after Shoreline cliques were pushed out of the Mar Vista Gardens projects. Shortly after, Oakwood exploded as a war broke out between the Shorelines and Venice 13 over control of the Venice drug trade until a cease-fire was arranged between the two gangs. In the 1990s, gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
hit Oakwood when newly arrived white
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
homeowners took residency in and around the area, causing Los Angeles to combat the gang problem. Although even after a series of raids, injunctions, and other measures against them, the Shorelines have maintained a steady control over their territory with their numbers ranging in the several hundreds.
Venice 13
In the early 1990s, the Shorelines became involved in a war with the neighboring Venice 13 gang over control of Oakwood's drug trade, which left almost two dozen people dead in 9 months. Eventually V13 would acquire the support of fellow Sotel 13, Santa Monica 13, and Culver City 13 Sureños gangsSureños
Sureños are a group of Mexican American street gangs with origins in the oldest barrios of Southern California. Although they are based in California, the influence of the Sureños has spread to many parts of the US and other countries as well such as Germany and Japan...
through the Mexican Mafia
Mexican Mafia
The Mexican Mafia , also known as La Eme , 13 is a Mexican American criminal organization, and is one of the oldest and most powerful prison gangs in the United States.-Foundation:...
and the war eventually ended with a cease-fire negotiated between V13 and the Shorelines in exchange for a new community center in the Oakwood neighborhood.
Rivals
The Venice Shoreline Crips are rivals with the many of the surrounding Latino gangs such as the Santa Monica 13Santa Monica 13
Santa Monica 13 or SMG is a Mexican-American street gang located in West Los Angeles, California . They reside mainly in the Pico Neighborhood of Santa Monica, which is said to be one of the last remaining ghettos of the Westside, due to gentrification. Even though Santa Monica 13 is a Sureño...
, Santa Monica 17th St, 18th Street
18th Street gang
18th Street gang is considered to be the largest transnational criminal gang in Los Angeles, California. It is estimated that there are thousands of members in Los Angeles County alone...
and the Culver City 13
Culver City Boyz
Culver City Boyz is an infamous Mexican American street gang primarily in western Los Angeles, California, including pockets in Culver City. Their traditional home is the Mar Vista Gardens, which is Los Angeles' westernmost largest housing project in the HACLA system...
. The gang has also been known to feud with the Rollin 40's Crips, Rollin 60 Neighborhood Crips
Rollin 60 Neighborhood Crips
The Rollin 60 Neighborhood Crips is a street gang based in Los Angeles, California. In 1972, the Rollin' 60's formed as a faction of the original Crip gang, the Westside Crips, and have since grown. Their main rival is the Eight Tray Gangster Crips to the East; however, they also fight with all...
, Grape Street Watts Crips, Graveyard Gangster Crips, and all Blood gangs
Bloods
The Bloods are a street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs...
.
Notoriety
In November 1980 a Venice Crip member was arrested for the murder of Sarai Ribicoff, niece of Senator Abraham Ribicoff, in a robbery outside a Washington Blvd restaurant.The war with the Culver City Boyz spilled into the lives of many not affiliated with gangs as bystanders and parents began being shot at on a regular basis.