Photo and information courtesy City of Kansas City.
The final form of graffiti Kansas City experts have identified is gang-related. It identifies turf and often tells a story. Graffiti sites can act as public bulletin boards for members. The various characters in gang graffiti may signify:
- A gang name
- A list of nicknames
- Numbers that symbolize various things
- The number 187 refers to homicide, a reference to the California Penal Code, and is a death threat
- For some Hispanic gangs, the number 13 represents “M,” the 13th letter in the alphabet, and is associated with the Mexican Mafia
- Crossed out words and tag overs are used as a way to send messages to others.
Get more information on gang tags and definitions
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