Maras (gangs)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maras (or marabuntas) are gangs originating from Central American countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Maras are particularly active in the United States mainly in California and Washington D.C.. The word mara is a Central American Spanish slang for gang. As in English, the word evolved from meaning a "group of friends" to a "group of criminals." It also is a name of a deadly ant in Central America.
People from El Salvador, Honduras and other Central American countries escaped during the 1980's to the United States. These people were running away from the civil wars and the dictators behind them that struck the countries of Central and South America, but particularly El Salvador.
[edit] Activities
Maras activities range from drug trafficking and prostitution to assaults and burglaries. Almost all maras display Tattoos on their bodies as a sign of their affiliation to their gang. ¨La vida por las maras¨ or the life for the gang is a very common used phrase by these gangs. The killing of innocents is part of their initiation and these activities follow them for the rest of their lives.
[edit] Rivalries
The most known maras are Mara Salvatrucha and their rivals Mara 18 and the former Salvadoran death squad Sombra Negra.
[edit] External links
- Foreignaffairs.org - How street gangs took Central America
- Youth Gangs in El Salvador & Conflict Management
- BBC news - Combating El Salvador's gangs
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