BlackLivesMatter

Gangster Disciples

Founded: 1963; 58 years ago

Founders: David Barksdale and Larry Hoover

Founding location: South Side, Chicago, Illinois, United States

Years active: 1963–present

Territory: Midwestern and Southeastern United States

Ethnicity: Primarily African American

Membership (est.): 25,000–50,000+

Leader(s): Larry Hoover, Devon Rodney

Activities: Drug Trafficking, assault, auto theft, firearms violations, fraud, homicide, prostitution rings, money laundering

Allies: Crips , Folk Nation , Simon City Royals

Rivals: Black P. Stones, Bloods, Latin Kings, People Nation, Vice Lords, Black Disciples

The predominant symbol of this gang is the six-pointed Star of David. The Gangster Disciples also use the upward crossed pitchforks ("rakes" or "pitchforks") and a heart with. The organization's old colors were black and blue. The Gangster Disciples are an African American street and prison gang, which was formed in the South Side of Chicago in the late 1960s, by Larry Hoover, leader of the Supreme Gangsters, and David Barksdale, leader of the Black Disciples. The two groups united to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation (BGDN). The BGDN split up and separated into different factions known today as the Gangster Disciples and Black Disciples. Today, the two gangs are bitter rivals.

Larry Hoover and Jeff Fort Eat Lunch Together In Prison

RYAN K. SMITHAUGUST 26, 20151419.4K00

To understand Chicago as “Chiraq,” you must understand the gangs/organized crime element of the city. Two names that come up immediately in Chicago gang history are Larry Hoover and Jeff Fort. Seen as the “Godfathers of Gangbanging” Hoover was “King” of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation a.k.a. the Folks Nation, and Fort lorded over the Black P Stone Nation. The two have been locked down in ADX Florence supermax prison Hoover is serving six life sentences for a 1997 conviction of conspiracy, extortion, money laundering and running a continuing criminal enterprise for leading the gang from state prison. Fort is down for 80 years based on conspiracy and weapons charges caught in 1997 for plotting attacks in America in exchange for weapons and $2.5 million from Libya. Chicago rapper GLC has confirmed that Hoover and Fort have been transferred out of 23 and 1 lockdown. Furthermore, GLC reports that Hoover and Fort, former rivals have been sitting down to lunch together and leading joint symposiums that promote prosperity and growth.

For a little background, Chicago regarded by many to be the birth place of inner-city gangs or organizations. In Chicago, in the early 60’s, the two top gangs were Jeff Fort’s Blackstone Rangers (later to be called the P. Stones or El Rukns.) and David Barkdale’s Black Disciple Nation. Larry Hoover was running an independent unit, the Gangsters, and both Fort and Barksdale vied for his army to come under their respective umbrellas. Fort approached Hoover first, but Hoover didn’t like the deal and declined. He did accept Barksdale’s offer, which included a position for him as “co-King” of the Disciples. Thus, the Gangster Black Disciples were born.

Larry Hoover:

Born: November 30, 1950 (age 70 years) Jackson, MS

Other Names: King Larry

Spouse: Winndye Jenkins

Children: Larry Hoover Jr., Samaya Hoover

Larry Hoover (born November 30, 1950) is an American gang leader, a founder of the Chicago street gang called the Gangster Disciples. Hoover is currently serving six life sentences at the ADX Florence prison in Florence, Colorado. His sentences include a 150–200 year sentence for a 1973 murder; and in 1997, after a 17-year investigation of conspiracy, extortion, money laundering, and running a continuing criminal enterprise for leading the gang from state prison, he received a life sentence.

Jeff Fort:

Born: February 20, 1947 (age 74) Aberdeen, Mississippi, U.S.

Other names: Angel, Black Prince, Chief Malik, Imam Abdul Malik Ka'bah

Known for: Co–founder and leader of Black P. Stones, Founder of El Rukn (Chicago)

Criminal status: ADX Florence, Florence, Colorado, U.S.

Spouse(s): Diane Fort (née Brown)

Children: Antonio Fort (1965–1997), Ameena Fort–Matthews, Watkeeta Fort, Tonya Fort

Fort co-founded the Black P. Stones gang and is the founder of its El Rukn faction. Fort is currently serving a 168-year prison sentence after being convicted of conspiracy and weapons charges in 1987 for plotting to commit attacks inside the U.S. in exchange for weapons and $2.5 million from Libya, ordering a murder in 1981 and a conviction for drug trafficking in 1983.

Mickey Cobras:

Founded: 1954

Named after: Henry "Mickey" Cogwell (1945–1977)

Founding location: West Side, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Years active: 1954–1966 (Egyptian Cobras), 1966–1977 (Cobra Stones), 1977–present (Mickey Cobras)

Territory: Chicago

Ethnicity: African American

Activities: Drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, murder

Allies: People Nation, Black P. Stones, Vice Lords

Rivals: Folk Nation, Gangster Disciples

The gang's criminal expertise is in narcotics. The Mickey Cobras main source of income is wholesale distribution of heroin, cocaine and marijuana to other gangs, where most gangs must deal within their own. On April 5, 2005, US Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald described The Mickey Cobras (few in numbers compared to other gangs with same power) as one of several "super-gangs" that constitute a sizable portion of Chicago's overall gang population. Some of their rivals would include Folk Nation, some BPS and Vice Lord sets. Traces of the gang can now be found in Chicago and Detroit.

"Egyptian Cobras"

The Egyptian Cobras formed in the year 1954 on Chicago’s west side. The founder of the Egyptian Cobras was James Cogwell. During the mid 1950s the Egyptian Cobras fought heavily with a gang called the 14th Street Clovers. The 14th Street Clovers were the gang that later became the Vice Lords in the late 1950s..The Mickey Cobras formed in the year 1954 on Chicago’s west side on the corner of Roosevelt and Maxwell. The founder of the Mickey Cobras was James Cogwell. The Mickey Cobras back in 1954 until 1960 were known as the Egyptian Cobras. During the mid 1950s the Egyptian Cobras fought heavily with a gang called the 14th street Clovers. The 14th street Clovers were the gang that later became the Vice Lords in the late 50s (before Vice Lords. When the Vice Lords returned to Lawndale in the year 1958, they soon swelled into a force to be reckoned with. The Vice Lords were very aggressive and the dominant gang in Lawndale; therefore, they immediately began to tear away at the Egyptian Cobras. By the year 1960 the Vice Lords had swelled in such large numbers that there was no room for Egyptian Cobras and they evacuated to the South Side of Chicago.

They relocated to the Woodlawn community to start a new beginning after they learned form their mistakes against the Vice Lords. They even changed their name to the Egyptian King Cobras (no relation to the Black King Cobras headed by Jerome “Shorty” Freeman). Around 1961 James Cogwell was killed leaving Henry Cogwell in charge of the Egyptian King Cobras. From 1961 till 1966 Cogwell led the Egyptian King Cobras successfully alone as they gained further reputation on the streets of Lawndale. In the year 1966 Eugene Hairston who was the leader of the Black Stone Rangers noticed the Cobras and offered the Cobras and Cogwell a position in the Main 21 alliance. The Cobras then joined the BPSN alliance that opposed the Black Disciple alliance and about a year later, the Gangster nation. The Egyptian King Cobras then changed their name to the Cobras Stones in 1966.