The Aryan Brotherhood (AB) originated in San Quentin prison in 1967. Originally, this gang was established to provide protection for White individuals from Black and Hispanic groups, most specifically the Mexican Mafia. Some of the original members of the AB migrated from a 1950s gang known as the "Bluebirds." Other names used in the past were the "Diamond Tooth Gang" and the "Nazi Gang."
Although members of the AB ordinarily wear numerous tattoos, the true AB tattoo is a shamrock, the letters AB, and three sixes. Three sixes displayed alone are not AB-specific because they are used by several other gangs. Only members of the AB are permitted to wear the "brand" of the gang; individuals found to be wearing the tattoo without consent of the AB are subject to murder. The AB has discouraged newer members from displaying AB specific tattoos to avoid identification from law enforcement officials. As a result, some AB members have removed or disguised their AB tattoos.
Although the Brotherhood is a White supremacist organization, for most AB members crime is their number priority and racial hatred would be a secondary goal, while the true White supremacist’s number one goal is generally racial hatred which they may or may not achieve through criminal behavior. Since 1972, the Aryan Brotherhood has had an alliance with the Mexican Mafia. The AB has also used the Odinist religion to conduct gang meetings and disguise illicit business practices. Older AB members learned the American Sign Language to communicate covertly.
Although the AB originated in California, it has spread throughout the nation and in the federal prison system. The leadership of the AB was recently hit with a federal R.I.C.O. indictment. Although the leadership has been disrupted, law enforcement officials expect that the gang will maintain a low-profile and will continue to contract out their criminal activity to such groups as the Nazi Lowriders and Peni (Public Enemy Number One).
