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Emily Braswell Mr. Borrero ENGL 1102 24 February 2012 Gangster Disciples Un-heard of by some and feared by many more, the Gangsters Disciples have managed to make a bold mark on the big picture of gang culture. This research paper has been constructed to show how such a raw group of individuals has strategically joined forces to make a colossal impact on the history of gangs. The Gangsters Disciples have climbed close to the top in the hierarchy of gangs, allowing them to use their status and popularity to multiply its followers daily (Knox)i. After taking many dives and making many changes, this group has played a pivotal role in molding Chicago and the east coast into what it is today. The two founding fathers of the Gangsters Disciples hold heavy names in American criminal history. Confirmed in 1968, by David Barksdale and later Larry Hoover the Gangsters Disciples owned and controlled vast grounds on the South-side of Chicago. These two names were involved in some of the largest drug trafficking and gang related crimes to ever take place in Chicago. This gang has changed names and identities multiple times, finding consistency in the enormous group of fluctuating followers. Before becoming an established gang, this group went through many transitions. As an infant, they identified as the Devils Disciples, a small group of young males that would claim particular street corners in southern Chicago. With the

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population already increasing, this group of people then called themselves the Black Disciples. This change was initiated by David Barksdale, the groups newly elected leader. Unfortunately Barksdale s continuous arrests answered any question to whether or not the mysterious Black Disciples were involved in crime and narcotics trafficking. With their not so clean reputation, and a deceased leader, the Black Disciples would then split into two rivaling gangs; the Black Disciples and the Gangsters Disciples. Larry Hoover controlled the Gangsters disciples iifor years, communicating through tactics that overcame the confines of the federal prison system. In a constant battle for parole, Hoover later changes the name of his gang to Growth and Development in attempt to shine a more positive light on crime infested Chicago.iii Today, the Gangsters Disciples are part of the larger FOLK family, and are also allies with many branches of crips (Knox). To this day, millions of citizens choose to live by the laws of these street gangs and forget that any actual laws exist. Chicago continues to be burdened financially and culturally by the immense amount of crime the gangs drag into the city (Weis).iv In a recent news report, former Chicago police superintendent Jody Weis attempted to educate the public on how many gang related deaths Chicago sees each year. About sixty-seven percent of homicides can be attributed in some way to gangs that is over two-hundred-ninety homicides each year in Chicago that are related to gangs, that is breath taking. Despite the troublesome statistics, the Gangsters Disciples claim that they attempt to put forth a more constructive appearance to the public eye. One recent case re directed media s attention to the swelling number of people involved in organized crime. This shooting reminded Chicago of its many ruthless residents.

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With its king still incarcerated, the Gangsters Disciples continue to make news with some of the most misleading and serious crimes in the country. This particular case began with an abandoned warehouse. It was your everyday square building plopped on the outskirts of the flourishing heart of Chicago. The exterior is worn, but it is clear that at some point in history this building was pumping with life and business. Blocked out by the public eye, this rotting piece of architecture read as more than a vacant building to the suspicious Chicago police. Disrupted by the amount of foot traffic around this dying block, The Chicago police deemed it necessary to conduct a narcotics investigation on this mysterious topic after watching this area for a mere three days (Reuters 11). This simple routine investigation will lead to the puzzling, lengthy case known as PEOPLE vs. TOLLIVER. After observing an unusually steady flow of people circulating in and out of this building, Officer Joseph Fernzi and Officer Michael Ceriale were directed to conduct an early morning investigation of this abandoned building (Reuters 10).They had suspicions that this building was coal mine , run by the commonly known gang; Gangsters Disciples (Jumat 2). This suspicion was brought up when officers reported seeing a multitude of colorful baggies being distributed from almost every door of this warehouse. The two officers parked their unmarked police car across from the building at about two thirty in the morning on March 12, 2004, in hopes to uncover the secrets and prove their allegations about this building to be correct (Reuters 12). Outside of the building were three figures. These three gang bangers will later be the eyewitnesses that made this case come to an eventual end. The people outside were thought to be security guards (Reuters 12). The officers knew that more than likely these supposed

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security guards were armed, but to determined to leave the investigation as heroes, officer Ferinzi and officer Ceriale approached the building (Reuters 19). At about three fifteen in the morning the two officers saw two additional figures appear from behind a door of the building and instantly officer Ceriale was shot in the hip. Everyone surrounding the area automatically fleas, leaving the wounded officer on the ground while officer Ferinzi calls for help. The 911 call was made at exactly three thirty in the morning .At this point officer Ceriale is still alive, attempting to describe what his shooter looks like. The only description Ceriale could give was that the man was wearing an orange hat.

As if he was begging to get caught, the same orange hat separated Jonathan Tollivers from every other individual in a crowd of one hundred people gathered in south Chicago one late Friday night (Reuters 35). The defendant was identified. Although to many the question of whether or not Tolliver shot Ceriale did not need to be asked, there was little evidence to prove him guilty. The six eyewitnesses, all members of the Gangsters Disciples, floundered to formulate statements that did not break any gang codes or incriminate their fellow gang member. All six testified at trial that they had no knowledge that Tolliver was involved in the shooting of Cerialev. Do to the lack of cooperation from the witnesses and lack of any physical evidence Tolliver was not proven guilty of murder at this time. The evidence was said to be circumstantial rather then physical. The defendant and witnesses did whatever they could to deprive the police of any actual information on the reality of this shooting and succeeded (Revolutionary Worker #1092). It was not three years later, during his second trial, that Jonathan Tolliver was sentenced to sixty years in prison with no parole. Throughout the

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prolonged case, authorities also struggled to prove that the murder was directly driven by the Gangsters Disciples. A quote from the courtroom states: It is clear that the prosecutor intended that the jury believe that the shooting of an unseen officer, hidden in the shrubbery at 3 a.m., by a 16-year old boy, was a well-orchestrated gangland shooting. (Knox 42). Despite society s suspicions, the murder was not proven to be directly driven by the Gang (Knox 43).

This court case demonstrates the amount of power and control organized crime can produce. Regardless of how guilty a gang member is, it is their brothers and sisters life promise go to any length to protect their set. This murder, along with hundreds of others, set the tone for gang culture in modern day Chicago. So sit back and watch as the Gangsters Disciples continue to strive and prosper while our lawful economy weakens and eventually topples.

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Works Cited Gangster, Inc. Gangland. The History Channel. Los Angeles. 22 May 2008.Television. Knox, George W. The GANGSTER DISCIPLES: A Gang Profile. NGCRC, Chicago, IL. n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2010. Weis, Jody. Weekly Gang Round Up. FOX CHICAGO.FOX. Chicago, IL. 30 January 2012. Television. 11 February 2010. Jumat. Black Gangsters Disciples Knowledge: Organizational Structure .BlogSpot. Chicago, IL. n.d. Web. 16 October 2009. Revolutionary Worker #1092. Jonathan Tolliver and the Courageous Juror. Chicago, IL. 25 February 2001. Web. 10 February 2012.

The idea of hierarchy will play a significant role in my final concept. I will be telling the story of the murder case from the view of Jonathan Tolliver. Gang banging at such a young age fills member s heads up with a sense of superiority. In my story, this big head is what drives this innocent man (Jonathan) to settle with his un just arrest. ii The main character is part of the Gangsters Disciples. His devotion and obsession with this gang is what causes him to take such a difficult path through life. Joining at a young age, Jonathan molds himself to fit the stereotypical gang banger profile. iii Many modern Gangsters Disciples take after Hoover and like the idea of giving fourth a more positive persona, but to many, the positivity is heavily outweighed by the crime and violence still seen within this gang today. In my concept, the gang members look at Growth and Development as another key to power. By putting up a positive faade, the gang members are doing nothing but promoting themselves in a way that will appeal to more people. iv In my story I want to have very descriptive information of the main character: Jonathan Tolliver. To do this, I want to give a very clear description of his upbringing and the preexisting negative influences that force him to devote himself to a gang at such a young age. v In my concept the actual murderer is one of the six eye witnesses. Jonathan Tolliver happened to be wearing the hat his fellow gang member was wearing when he shot the police officer. All of the Gangsters Disciples work together to attempt to dodge any consequences for this dead police officer. Unable to snitch or break gang code, Jonathan deals with his sentence but continues to plea as innocent.