SANTA CRUZ
SUREÑO TATTOOS
The following local photographs represent Santa
Cruz Sureño criminal street gangs: Brown Pride
Santa Cruz (BPSC), Beach Flats Sureños (BFS),
Santa East Side (SES), Villa San Carlos (VSC),
Mara Salvatrucha (MS)
GANG-RELATED TATTOOS
It should be noted that any and all gang
related tattoos must be earned prior to and
authorized
by the respective gang.
One can earn a tattoo by a variety of ways
that include but are not limited to “putting in
work” or committing a violent act against
another person especially a rival gang
member or associate.
SUREÑO TATTOOS
Sureños identify
with the number 13
which represents
the thirteenth letter
of the alphabet “M”- and the
Mexican Mafia –
the prison gang that
controls the
Sureños.
SUREÑO TATTOOS
Depicted in the tattoo below is
a broken star that represents
disrespect to Norteños (who
use the northern star as a
symbol). There is also an
“X3” in the star.
Tattooed here is “Santa Cruz
Trece.” Trece means 13 in
Spanish.
SUREÑO TATTOOS
Depicted in this
tattoo is the
California Bear (a
Norteño symbol).
California
. is spelled
out “Killafornia.”
The letter “n” is
crossed out and
there is a broken
star.
These images are all in reference to disrespecting and
challenging Norteño gang members.
SUREÑO TATTOOS
Depicted in this tattoo
is a skull with 3 dots
on the forehead
representing the
number 13 for Sureño.
Depicted with this tattoo is the
number 13, a skull and the letters
“BP” for Brown Pride – a Sureño
gang in Santa Cruz.
SUREÑO TATTOOS
The three dots in
this tattoo are very
common, especially
for new young gang
members.
Depicted in this tattoo
are the letters “NK”
meaning “Norteño
Killer.” The letter
“N” is crossed out as
a form of disrepect to
the Norteños.
Depicted in this
tattoo is the word
“Southern.”
SUREÑO TATTOOS
The tattoos above (from left to right) are
“SES” abbreviated for Santa East Side,
and “MS 13” which represents Mara Salvatrucha.
Both are Sureño gangs in Santa Cruz.
SUREÑO TATTOOS
These tattoos
represent Beach
Flats Sureños
(BFS)
– a Santa Cruz
street gang.
SUREÑO TATTOOS
The letters “BPSC” represent a Sureño gang known as
Brown Pride Santa Cruz. Above the tattoo “My Pride”
and “My Neighborhood” are written in Spanish.
TATTOO REMOVAL
Catholic Charities Tattoo Removal Program
(formerly Dominican Hospital Tattoo Removal Program)
831-316-9121
610 Frederick Street, Santa Cruz
Required: 20 hours of community service, must complete an interview
Minimum $20/session or sliding scale
Since October 1997, thousands of treatments have been given by the
Tattoo Removal Program. The majority of clients are between 14 and 50 years
old. More than 75% of those in the program had been tattooed for gang
identification--and wanted out.
For more information:
www.basta.santacruz.k12.ca.us
Email: basta@santacruz.k12.ca.us