Santa Monica 13

Santa Monica 13 or SMG is a Mexican-American street gang located in Santa Monica, California, United States. They reside mainly in the Pico neighborhood. Even though Santa Monica 13 is a Sureño gang, they wear their traditional black bandanas. The acronym SM17 refers to Santa Monica 17th Street, which is the gang's primary subset or "clique". They write up "SMG" or "Santa Monica Gang" to show solidarity.^[6]

Santa Monica 13

Founded	1920s
Founding location	Santa Monica, California, United States
Years active	1920s–present
Territory	Pico District, Santa Monica
Ethnicity	Mexican American
Activities	Murder, drug trafficking, extortion, assault, auto theft, robbery
Allies	Mexican Mafia Sureños^[1] Venice 13 (after the truce)
Rivals	18th Street gang^[2] Whistlin Diesel^[citation needed] Culver City Boys^[3] Venice 13^[4] Venice Shoreline Crips^[5] Grave Yard Gangster Crips Sotel 13

History

The Santa Monica Gang was the first gang to originate on the Westside of Los Angeles in the late 1920s, formerly known as the Santa Monica Tomato Patch Gang. They had given birth to all the surrounding gangs in the area. The gang simply became known as Santa Monica 13 and, since the creation of the Mexican Mafia in the 1950s, have been known for their violent ways.^[7]

Cliques

The only active clique remaining in the 17th Street gang are the "Pee Wee Locos",^[6] and the only active remaining clique of Santa Monica 13 are the "Little Locos". Other cliques have come and gone over time, including the 11th Street Chavos, 17th Street Tiny Locos, 17th Street Locas, 20th Streeters, 21st. Deadend Winos, Midget Locos and the Crickets.

Graffiti

The gang's graffiti includes the symbols "SM" "SMG", "SM13" or "SMX3" and for the 17th Street gang, "SM17" or "SMXVII" plus "SMX7" or "SMXV2st".^[8]

References

1. King of the Norf Jeff Weiss, thelandmag.com (2019)
2. People v. Vasquez Court Listener (April 17, 2014)
3. People v. Robles Leagle.com (February 25, 2014)
4. People v. Cortez Leagle.com (October 23, 2013)
5. Crips and Bloods: A Guide to an American Subculture Herbert C. Covey (2015)
6. "Wallbangin' Graffiti and Gangs in L.A.", Susan A. Phillips, University of Chicago, 2010, web: Uch6677.
7. "The Pico Youth and Family Center opens in Santa Monica, California." Street Gangs Resource Center - Los Angeles and California | The Gang Experts | Bloods | Crips | Surenos | 18th Street | Mara Salvatrucha. 15 October 2009, web: Alex Alonso.
8. "Los Angeles CityBeat - Gangster's Paradise Lost." Los Angeles CityBeat, front page. 15 October 2009, web: DRom-gangs.