Bridge to the 21st Century -- or gangplank?

“Gangster Disciples” and Other Organizations

by Gerald A. Carroll

Gerald A. Carroll is a media ollowing are some frequently neighborhoods of California to professional with 23 years expe- asked questions about the fund the anticommunist rebels in rience as a reporter or editor for “Gangster Disciples”, a - Nicaragua in the 1980’s. newspapers and magazines. He based organization with reported Mr. Carroll’s description of is now an adjunct professor and ties in the Iowa City area. “gang” activity contrasts sharply program assistant at the Univer- As you read, note that drug with the violent, ignorant, vice-rid- sity of Iowa School of Journalism dealing has become the modern den image of “drug dealers” fos- and Mass Communication, and edi- equivalent of a “paper route” for tered by TV and the legal system. tor of Iowa Journalist magazine. kids wanting to make a buck in If Mr. Carroll’s observations are Carroll spent nearly eleven the inner city. Moreover, note correct, dismissing the “Gangster years (1979-90) at the San ran- the positive social structure and Disciples” as nothing more than cisco Examiner, a Hearst-owned positive community contributions a “gang” of illiterate thugs is a dan- newspaper, where he learned in- provided by some drug . By gerous underestimate – the side information on so-called contributing to their community, “GD’s” are a sophisticated eco- “gangs” while reporting in San sophisticated drug dealers are nomic and political entity that rancisco, the East Bay Area, and earning the respect and political wields considerable power in particularly central Oakland, support of their neighbors. Note ways more complex than merely where gang organizations flour- also that some gangs discourage waving guns, commands the re- ish. Carroll was also managing drug use among their members, spect of their community, and ap- editor at a newspaper in down- encourage and support “straight” parently engages in a very subtle state Illinois (Sterling-Rock alls) members of their inner city com- variety of political warfare against for two years, (1990-92) and his munity with services like day care the people of “mainstream staff routinely covered gang-re- — but at the same time seeks to America”. lated activities. Through these sell their products outside their In the 1996 election, Repub- experiences, in which firsthand community, and apparently tar- licans made much of the recent information concerning gangs gets the middle- and upper- class rise in drug use by our nation’s was crucial to the safety of the whites. In this regard, the “Gang- youth. Mr. Carroll’s analysis of journalists covering the news, ster Disciples” are promoting gangs and drug-dealing offers an Carroll realized that the available their drugs into “alien” communi- intriguing explanation for that information about gangs was ei- ties just like the CIA allegedly pro- rise. ther unavailable or inaccurate. moted “crack” into the inner city

18 AntiShyster Volume 10, No. 1 www.antishyster.com [email protected] 972-418-8993 Q: Just who are the “Gang- in which to organize the far-flung average of 10 kilos (22 pounds) ster Disciples?” arms of the organization. Assas- of cocaine a week with an esti- A: The Gangster Disciples sination is common among gang mated street value of $1 million were founded in the 1960s in hierarchies, so the safety of a in 1995-96.5 GD continuously Chicago under the name “Black prison, with taxpayer-supported looks for smaller communities to Disciples” by the late David shelter, food, armed guards and expand markets for its illegal Barksdale, known historically in other amenities, is by far a pre- products. Along with Iowa City, gang circles as “King David.” The ferred option. Most gangs are other medium-sized Midwest cit- group’s name was later changed run from prisons. ies reporting GD activity include to “Black Gangster Disciples,” a Bloomington, Ill., Springfield, Mo., name still used by U.S. Attorney Q: How extensive is GD Muncie, Ind., Appleton, Wis., General Janet Reno1 to describe membership? Kentfield, Calif., and the Virginia the organization. More recently, A: The Drug Enforcement Ad- suburbs of Washington, D.C., in- the name was shortened to ministration (DEA) places GD’s cluding alls Church, Virginia.6 “Gangster Disciples,” or simply as membership at roughly 30,000 “GD.” and rapidly growing. GD chapters Q: What is the basic leader- have been detected in 35 states.2 ship and financial structure of GD? Q: Who is the current rec- A: Hoover admits studying ognized leader of GD? Q: What are the business Al Capone and his Prohibition-era A: Larry Hoover, who runs activities of GD, and how exten- crime syndicate, and modeling his the syndicate from an Illinois sive are they? organization after the infamous prison, where he is serving a 150- A: According to the DEA, GD gangster’s network.3 “The Gang- to 200-year state prison sen- drug-marketing enterprises gen- ster Disciples are one if not the tence for a gang-related murder. erate over $100 million annually,2 largest and most successful Hoover is also being tried for nar- but indications are the operations gangs in the history of the United cotics conspiracy charges, but his are much larger in financial scope. States,” says James Morgan, spe- Oct. 7, 1996, trial date was post- or example, 80 gang members cial DEA agent in Chicago. GD poned “at least a year”.2 Hoover in the Englewood section of members are “incredibly well-dis- has been incarcerated on various south Chicago alone moved an ciplined and well-trained.”3 Entry- charges since the 1970s, but has retained iron-fisted control of GD and its multimillion-dollar enter- Gun Owners of America prises. It had been hoped by fed- eral authorities that an additional GOA defends firearms ownership as a freedom issue using conviction on narcotics con- its members to put the heat on their Congressmen. spiracy charges would allow As the late Sen. Everett Dirksen used to say, Hoover to be transferred to a “When I feel the heat, I see the light.” higher-security federal prison, where his leadership role in GD Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) has called GOA might conceivably be reduced. “the only no-compromisePratt, Larry gun 101 lobby Paid in Washington.” However, assistant U.S. Attorney 1/3 10K Ron Safer stated that Hoover’s Want to keep your rights from being legislated away by transfer to a federal jail would Congress? Join GOA today. lead to gang anarchy and even more violence in the streets.3

Q: Does imprisonment act as a deterrent to gang activity? A: No. Imprisonment of gang members leads to growth When you call as an AntiShyster reader to request membership of the problem. Actually, prisons information about GOA, you’ll receive a free 6-month trial are the nerve centers of major in- subscription to our newsletter, The Gun Owner. Call us ternational gangs and syndi- at 1-800-417-1486. Or write GOA at 8001 Forbes Place, Suite cates.4 Many gang leaders, like 102, Springfield, VA 22151. If you would like to receive GOA’s Hoover, actually prefer a prison email and/or fax bulletins be sure to ask for them too! as a headquarters because it ironically provides a safe haven

AntiShyster Volume 10, No. 1 www.antishyster.com [email protected] 972-418-8993 19 munity circles. Gang networks IS THIS PARASITE regard themselves as “families.” Q: Why are these gangs so EATING YOU ALIVE? violent? Q: What are some of GD’s A: Gangs such as GD seldom Toussaint, Karen 1/6 5K member rules, policies and com- engage in “random” violence. In 101PAID mand structures? almost every instance, the per- A: GD members are prohib- son who is attacked has pro- ited from using drugs, but en- voked gang members into doing couraged to market the sub- so by breaking rules, owing stances to anyone desiring them. money, disrespecting or “dissing” 85% of Americans Use tends to create business con- other gang members, or causing are infected with parasites! flicts of interest. Gambling on unnecessary turmoil within gang Who’s getting to your supplements credit, poor sportsmanship, ranks. GD members who begin first? The parasite or YOU? stealing and showing disrespect using drugs are often purged for other GD members is ex- from the organization and are Do you experience: allergies, joint pressly prohibited. Personal sometimes killed if they threaten pain, depression, constipation, health and hygiene are strongly to expose any illegal activity as a diarrhea, headaches, candida, encouraged, even required. result of their addictions. Most chronic fatigue, gas & bloating, loss of Dress codes are prevalent, mainly violence occurs when rival gangs appetite, skin problems, uncontrol- for identification purposes. Rule- battle over drug territory. Terri- lable weight, itchy ears, nose and anus, forgetfulness.. breakers are routinely beaten, tories are clearly marked with shot in the leg or abdomen or spray-painted gang insignias. A Learn to naturally rid yourself of otherwise kept in line by the se- rival gang will compete with an es- tapeworms, lice, hookworms, pin- vere top-down management sys- tablished gang if they also paint worms. flukes, giardia, roundworms. tem. GD members possess intri- their insignia on a particular build- Call Karen for a FREE audio today! cate command-and-control struc- ing or sign, or if they paint the (414) 251-3563 tures, similar to a military organi- rival gang’s insignia upside-down. zation.3 Cellular phones, beepers GD and other gangs also have at level pay for “shorties” (teenaged and police radio scanners are key their disposal any weapon they lookouts) averages $25 an hour. components to GD’s organiza- choose, whether or not it is le- Low-level dealers have well-de- tional structure. GD intelligence gal for the general population to fined territories and, in a few networks, using mostly preteens, own it. The high-profile assault hours’ work per day, will move routinely monitor all visible police weapons ban and Brady Bill $500 worth of contraband. Of activity. Police informants are passed by Congress only serve that $500, $350 goes to GD’s net- ruthlessly rooted out and se- to keep law-abiding citizens from work, $150 to the dealer. The verely punished or even killed. owning these weapons. GD and 70-30 split is standard. Higher- Such details as when police per- other gangs have the resources level dealers control entire build- sonnel shift changes take place to get any firearms they need. In ings, where income reaches an are recorded by “shorties.” In September of 1995, alleged GD average of $5,000 per day.3 Much Chicago, the boyfriend of a fe- members shot up a Bloomington, of this income, aside from wel- male Chicago police officer was Ill., housing project using a fully fare, is the only reliable source of a major boon for GD because the automatic TEC-80 assault income for most neighborhood officer would leak vital informa- weapon.6 residents. GD members com- tion to the boyfriend, who would monly share profits with others in turn disseminate the informa- Q: Why are GD and the other in their neighborhoods, and pro- tion to rank-and-file gang mem- major gangs so wealthy and pow- vide armed security as needed. bers in advance of major drug erful? Neighborhood children are pro- busts and other police investiga- A: Current drug laws benefit vided a steady stream of snacks, tive activities. Colors signify vari- the criminals. Drugs are now sell- toys and other treats, mostly pur- ous gang affiliations. Blue and ing at 200 to 400 times what they chased with drug proceeds. Paid black are GD’s colors, for ex- would sell for if they were de- day care is also available for ample. Red and blue have long criminalized, making the activity women who choose not to pur- been the standard colors for the enormously profitable as long as chase drugs, but instead seek and , gangs based in it remains prohibited. Gangs straight employment. Mid-level Los Angeles who now have 150 greatly appreciate these suppres- dealers are often looked upon fa- subsets and 60,000 members sive laws, because they pit nor- vorably in their respective com- around the nation.4 mal citizens against police, and

20 AntiShyster Volume 10, No. 1 www.antishyster.com [email protected] 972-418-8993 gangs reap the profits from this the prohibited substances, and enforcement of drug laws at the artificially enforced “siege mental- harassment from police whose possession level and instead con- ity.” Mandatory sentencing of crusade is to enforce drug laws. centrate their efforts on penetrat- drug offenders also benefits the Under the Clinton administration, ing sales networks and arresting gangs, enabling gang leaders to this same atmosphere of intimi- the real criminals at the top of be protected behind prison walls dation has now spread to the le- these sales networks. Instead of while running their enterprises gitimate tobacco industry, de- harassing bicyclists who ride on with impunity. Youth antidrug spite its clear violations of per- the sidewalk or motorists who fail programs like D.A.R.E. also ben- sonal liberty. to fasten their seat belts, police efit the gangs by alienating young should monitor and apprehend people who are already rebel- Q: What can we do to stem violent criminals. Police priorities lious by nature and/or because this disturbing trend? need to change dramatically if any of their age, inexperience and A: Push for radical changes headway is to be made against lack of parental involvement in in current drug laws to keep drug drug sales and use by young the home. Antidrug programs en- lords from using the prison sys- people. courage young people to rat or tem as a sanctuary. Use all cap- snitch on their friends, and often tured drug proceeds to benefit to bypass their parents/ guard- victims of violent drug-related If Mr. Carroll’s research is cor- ians and go straight to police. crime instead of lining the pock- rect, why hasn’t his information Police departments run most of ets of local, state and federal gov- been publicized by government, these programs, including ernment bureaucracies. Talk to police, or mainstream media. The D.A.R.E., with very little prior in- children pragmatically about the answer can only be self-interest. put from parents. Parents are sim- pitfalls of drug use without using Somebody besides the drug deal- ply asked to enforce D.A.R.E. di- the sledgehammer of fear over ers, somebody we trust or even rectives and funnel all information their heads. Promote family-cen- elect, is also profiting from the about the activity of young tered activities and recreation. sale of drugs. people straight to the respective Open a dialogue with gang mem- or example, as Mr. Carroll im- police departments. ear is used bers themselves, identify them plied, law enforcement is not only as a blunt instrument to intimi- publicly and give them a strong pleased but probably addicted to date young people, an unsustain- signal that they are not welcome the financial “benefits” they re- able tactic. Naturally, under these in your community. Media should ceive from applying seizure laws conditions, drug use has actually aggressively report and expose against drug consumers. (But risen in almost every category. gang activity and insist on police when do they seize the property Recent polls suggest that par- candor in doing so. Keeping vi- of the really big distributors?) ents are doing little to prevent tal information on the circum- Given that so much money is be- this, mainly because they them- stances of a gang-related inci- ing seized to support our local selves used drugs at an early age dent hidden from the press only police, where’s the incentive for and suffered few negative effects endangers the general public. the police to stop the flow of aside from the enormous cost of Police should immediately curtail drugs? No drugs means no sei-

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AntiShyster Volume 10, No. 1 www.antishyster.com [email protected] 972-418-8993 21 zures, no raises and no razzle- rorism”. I.e., on behalf of the as long as drugs remain illegal dazzle hi-tech police equipment. white middle- and upper-class, the (and therefore outside the free This is not to say cops are CIA intentionally poisoned blacks market and exorbitantly profit- bad, but only that they are human with crack in the 1980’s. Today, able), those people who deal and therefore unwilling to jeop- on behalf of the black commu- drugs – be they “Gangster Dis- ardize a source of income. Still, nity, the Gangster Disciples are in- ciples” or C.I.A. – will be empow- Mr. Carroll’s suggestion to distrib- tentionally poisoning the white ered in ways that are contrary to ute the financial gains from drug middle- and upper- class. the social, medical, and political seizures to victims rather than That kind of political argu- interests of the free market and the government strikes me as bril- ment might inspire elements of free Americans. liant. Once government is sepa- the black community to see the l No government “war” or rated from drug-profits, we can Gangster Disciples as black “pa- prohibition has ever stopped an expect government to launch a triots” and drug dealing as just organization or activity as profit- real effort to end the drug prob- another weapon in a war of revo- able as drug dealing. Anyone lem -- either through increased lution and liberation. Given this who believes the “git tuff” men- force or increased smarts (legal- political motivation, drug dealing tality can work had better explain ization). and Gangster Disciples stand to how the Gangster Disciples’ l Imagine the political impact generate enormous political leader maintains power over a on blacks who learn the CIA in- power. Moreover, if the CIA sold multi-million dollar drug distribu- tentionally promoted drugs into crack to blacks to support Nica- tion network while being impris- the inner cities in the 1980’s. raguan forces against Commu- oned for two decades. If prison Based on that exposure, the nism, it’s probable that the Gang- life and regimentation is not “tuff Gangster Disciples could easily ster Disciples feel a reactionary enuff” to stop drug-dealing, what justify selling drugs to middle- empathy for Communism. is? If America finds “gangs” and and upper-class whites not l The only stone missing drug dealing truly offensive, the merely for money or out of crimi- from Mr. Carroll’s analysis of the only solution is to legalize drugs, nal indifference, but on the politi- Gangster Disciples’ cultural foun- subject their sale to the rigors of cal basis of retribution, even as dation might be a religion that’s the free market (fair profits and their own brand of “counter-ter- contrary to the mainstream faiths increased legal liability), and of America (Christianity) and will- watch drug-related crime and vio- Radio Free Maine Recordings ing to overlook the sale of drugs lence wane to a level similar to Portland Maine 4-4-98 – at least to members of other that currently associated with al- Powerful, Empowering Information faiths. Although the black cohol or tobacco. community’s Christian faith has THE IMPACT OF T.V. roots several centuries deep, I Stuart, R.C. 1 ederal News Service, press wonder if the Muslim faith (with 1/6ON 5K THE 101PAID GROWING MIND conference, Aug. 29, 1996. Sponsored by its political undertones of holy war against “infidels”) is being Wylland, Association of Waldorf 2 Matt O’Connor, “Trial of Schools & TV Free America embraced by the GDs. Imagine Hoover Delayed At Least a Year,” the potential power of a “move- Chicago Tribune, Sept. 27, 1996. MICHAEL MENDIZZA: Child brain ment” that tied drug dealing development; stories and play vs. TV. (money), revolutionary politics, 3 Ann Scott Tyson, “Bringing JOSEPH CHILTON PEARCE: Children and Communism and Islam into one Down a Gang,” Christian Science TV viewing; the next Silent Spring. political smorgasbord. Endowed Monitor, July 15, 1996. Dr. Keith Buzzell: TV Influences on with almost unlimited financial re- the human brain. sources and passionate political 4 Marcia Slacum Greene, Jerry Mander: author of “Outside Allegiances Exert Lethal Four Arguments for the Elimination of T.V. and religious motivations, that movement could present a seri- orce,” Washington Post, Sept 9, Forewarned is Forearmed. ous challenge to the existing cul- 1996. Parents and Grandparents, this ture and de facto government. 5 Ann Scott Tyson, “Chicago information is not yet widely l The key to the drug orga- Neighborhood Generates $1 known. nizations’ political power is their Million a Week,” Christian Science Audio cassettes (4) $45.00 to enormous cash flow and profits Monitor, July 15 1996. Radio Free Maine, PO Box 2705, and their willingness to use that Augusta, Maine 04338. cash to benefit their friends and 6 Tom McNichol, “How One 207-622-6629 Catalog - $1.00 bribe their enemies. As always, Small City Combats Gangs,” USA the real addiction is to money and Weekend, Sept. 29, 1996.

22 AntiShyster Volume 10, No. 1 www.antishyster.com [email protected] 972-418-8993