Santa Cruz NorteÑo Graffiti

WATSONVILLE SUREÑO TATTOOSSureños identify with the number 13 which represents thethirteenth letter of the alphabet “M” and the Mexican Mafia –the prison gang that controls the Sureños.

WATSONVILLE SUREÑO TATTOOSThis young man is from the Sureño gang“Poor Side Watsonville.”“Mi Vida Loca is tattooed on his chest which translates to“My Crazy Life” and is common gang lingo.

WATSONVILLE SUREÑO TATTOOSDepicted in the photograph above is what is known as a chest piece.The individual is proclaiming his street -“Second.” You also see thenumber 13 and the dollars sign. Gangs engage in illegal activities inorder to generate money for the gang.

WATSONVILLE SUREÑO TATTOOSThe letters “P” and “S” on this mans arms stand for“Poor Side.” Also notice the word “Sur” which isshort for Sureño and means South in Spanish. Thenumber 13 is also tattooed on his chest.

WATSONVILLE SUREÑO TATTOOSDepicted in the photographabove are the letters “MSL” for“Mexican Side Locos” - aSureno gang in Watsonville.Depicted in the photographabove is a Sureño gangmember with the letters“NK” tattooed on his headwhich stands for“Norteño Killer.”

TATTOO REMOVALCatholic Charities Tattoo Removal Program(formerly Dominican Hospital Tattoo Removal Program)831-316-9121610 Frederick Street, Santa CruzRequired: 20 hours of community service, must complete aninterviewMinimum $20/session or sliding scaleSince October 1997, thousands of treatments have been given by theTattoo Removal Program. The majority of clients are between 14 and 50 yearsold. More than 75% of those in the program had been tattooed for gangidentification--and wanted out.

For more information:www.basta.santacruz.k12.ca.usEmail: basta@santacruz.k12.ca.us