White Fence
Encyclopedia
White Fence, also known by the acronym WF, is the oldest East Los Angeles
gang. They also sometimes use the name Cerco Blanco which is Spanish
for White Fence. In East L.A. they were also known as "Pachucos".
. At first it was called "La Purissima Crowd", but gradually changed it's name to "White Fence". The gang is almost entirely composed of Mexican Americans. At a time where racism
plagued the area, the name "Fence" could serve as a symbolic (or real) barrier between the white residents in the area and the Latino residents of the neighborhood.
The original barrio
of White Fence was Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Eventually the gang expanded to West Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley
and other areas across the country. The rivalry between the gang and another Hispanic gang, Maravilla, is arguably one of the longest ongoing feuds in all L.A. gangs.
was writing articles about the "White Fence Gang" while reporting on the murder of 2 males whose bodies were left along Whittier Blvd
. These would only be the first of many gang crimes committed by White Fence. In East L.A. White Fence were also called "Pachucos".
In August 1942, the murder of Jose Diaz in a case known as Sleepy Lagoon murder
in southeast Los Angeles, California, riots sprung around the city. The riots also became the precursor to the Zoot Suit Riots
of 1943 with the White Fence becoming one of many hispanic
gangs in Los Angeles area to participate. The riots started when Mexican-American "Pachucos" were beaten up by American sailors and Marines during the height of World War II
. The excuse the servicemen used for starting the attacks against the Latin "zoot suiters" was that the Mexican Americans were "unpatriotic" and the Americans needed to confront them in "self-defense".
, Wake Forest
, Oakland Raiders
gear. Brown and white colors are favored by members, as well as the color blue. The symbols, XIII, X3, 13, and 3-dots are to pay homage to their Sureño allegiance.
documentary entitled Homicide in Hollenbeck about gangs in the area, White Fence has well over 100 members and associates in North America and Parts of Central America.
East Los Angeles (region)
East Los Angeles is the portion of the City of Los Angeles that lies east of Downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles River and the unincorporated areas of Lincoln Heights, west of the San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles and City Terrace, south of Cypress Park, and north of Vernon, California and...
gang. They also sometimes use the name Cerco Blanco which is Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for White Fence. In East L.A. they were also known as "Pachucos".
History
The origin of the gang White Fence goes back to the 1920s when it started as a church sports team. It soon developed into a notorious street gang in Los AngelesLos 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...
. At first it was called "La Purissima Crowd", but gradually changed it's name to "White Fence". The gang is almost entirely composed of Mexican Americans. At a time where 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...
plagued the area, the name "Fence" could serve as a symbolic (or real) barrier between the white residents in the area and the Latino residents of the neighborhood.
The original barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
of White Fence was Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Eventually the gang expanded to West Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
and other areas across the country. The rivalry between the gang and another Hispanic gang, Maravilla, is arguably one of the longest ongoing feuds in all L.A. gangs.
Criminal Activities
By 1939, The Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
was writing articles about the "White Fence Gang" while reporting on the murder of 2 males whose bodies were left along Whittier Blvd
California State Route 72
State Route 72 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route runs from Puente Street in Brea to Atlantic Boulevard in East Los Angeles. It forms part of El Camino Real.-Route description:...
. These would only be the first of many gang crimes committed by White Fence. In East L.A. White Fence were also called "Pachucos".
In August 1942, the murder of Jose Diaz in a case known as Sleepy Lagoon murder
Sleepy Lagoon murder
Sleepy Lagoon murder was the name that newspapers and radio commentators used to describe the alleged murder of Jose Diaz, whose body was found on the Williams Ranch near a lagoon in southeast Los Angeles, California, on August 2, 1942...
in southeast Los Angeles, California, riots sprung around the city. The riots also became the precursor to the Zoot Suit Riots
Zoot Suit Riots
The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of riots in 1943 during World War II that erupted in Los Angeles, California between white sailors and Marines stationed throughout thehi c mlc city and Latino youths, who were recognizable by the zoot suits they favored...
of 1943 with the White Fence becoming one of many hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
gangs in Los Angeles area to participate. The riots started when Mexican-American "Pachucos" were beaten up by American sailors and Marines during the height of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The excuse the servicemen used for starting the attacks against the Latin "zoot suiters" was that the Mexican Americans were "unpatriotic" and the Americans needed to confront them in "self-defense".
Clothing & culture
White Fence members use the numbers 236, the 23 for the letter W and the 6 for the letter F respectively. They are also known for wearing Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field....
, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
gear. Brown and white colors are favored by members, as well as the color blue. The symbols, XIII, X3, 13, and 3-dots are to pay homage to their Sureño allegiance.
Membership
According to a special CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
documentary entitled Homicide in Hollenbeck about gangs in the area, White Fence has well over 100 members and associates in North America and Parts of Central America.