This marked the beginning of the advanced political culture of Sur 13 gangs. From one day to the next, shot-callers, or the leadership in the organization, were creating city council-like structures with mayors and city managers.
In the summer of 1993, the Mexican Mafia declared a peace treaty amongst all Mexican-American Sur 13 gangs in southern California. The goal was to end long-term rivalries, reduce gang violence, promote peace and security, and pursue economic interests. In order for this type of political reeducation to take shape, several meetings, like press conferences, were to take place all across the region to slowly introduce the concept. The first collective meeting was held in Elysian Park, adjacent to Dodger’s Stadium in the City of Los Angeles, where every gang throughout the county was to be present so that the basic principles of the treaty would be conveyed, and where concerns would be addressed. Afterwards, streets gangs were separated into regional blocs, i.e. Westside, Eastside, Harbor Area, San Fernando Valley, etc., where social and economic concerns were discussed, and where political ideas were introduced.
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