Clanton 14

Clanton 14 or C14th is one of the oldest Latino street gangs in Los Angeles, California. Dating back at least to the early 1930s,<ref>Wills 6. Unsourced yet: It dates as far back as 1922 but 14th Street gang dates back to 1917, as stated by former Police Chief Joe Reed in an article from the 1940's.</ref> A notable precursor to the street gangs that rose to prominence in the 1980s, it remains an active gang today.

History

The gang took its name from Clanton Street, which is now called 14th Place just south of Downtown Los Angeles. (The name was changed, despite neighborhood protests, to make civil service businesses easier to find.)<ref>(City Archives)</ref>

The gang's territority was centered about one mile east of downtown Downtown Los Angeles. A second neighborhood was sanctioned in the late 1950s around Pico Boulevard and Union Avenue, where the gang expanded west. By that time, the gang's territory was bounded by San Pedro Street to the west, 7th/9th Streets to the north, Alameda Street to the east, and Washington Boulevard (Los Angeles)|Washington Blvd to the south.

The gang was involved in fights against other gangs;<ref>"Gang Shooting" A2.</ref> in 1942, member Frank Torres was shot by a member of the First Street Gang at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.<ref>"Gang Shooting" A2.</ref> A decade later, Clanton members were involved in a bar fight that led to the death of Edmund Pacheco, a member of the Loma gang.<ref>"Suspects Held" 2.</ref> In 1978, a shootout between Clanton and the rival 18th Street gang gravely injured four people at the corner of 7th and Broadway (Los Angeles)|Broadway.<ref>"Four Wounded" B3.</ref>

Though overshadowed by the growth of the newer, more dispersed gangs, Clanton remains powerful in Los Angeles. They have expanded into the Hollywood and North Hollywood area.

Clanton was one of the first gangs to create a significant presence on the Internet, with a "professional quality" website,<ref>Briscoe.</ref> featuring photos, a detailed history, and message boards on which older and younger members keep in contact and post pictures of art work and become pen-pals with older gang members who are serving time in the California penal system.

Notes

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Bibliography

• Baker, Bob (1988). "Deeply Rooted in L.A. Chicano Gangs: A History of Violence." Los Angeles Times December 11.
• Briscoe, Daren (2006). "Netbangers, Beware." MSNBC.com. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
• (1942). "Police Seize 300 in Boys' Gang Drive; Many Weapons Taken in Roundup Conducted by Hundreds of Officers." Los Angeles Times. August 10.
• (1942). "Gang Shooting Told in Court." Los Angeles Times August 12.
• (1953). "Suspects Held in New Gang Killing." Los Angeles Times. December 15.
• Will, Bob (1953). "Youthful Gangs Active in All Parts of the City for Many Years." Los Angeles Times. December 16.