Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips
{{short description|African-American street gang}}
{{Infobox Criminal organization
| name = Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips
| image = Rollin' 60's Neighborhood Crips Graffiti.jpg
| caption = "60's Crips" graffiti
| founded = 1976
| founding location = Los Angeles, California
| years active = 1976–present
| ethnicity = Predominantly African-American
| criminal activities = Racketeering, murder, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, auto theft, armed robbery, burglary, extortion, fraud{{cite news|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/crips-gang-member-sentenced-life-prison-murder-aid-racketeering-and-other-crimes|title=Crips Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder in-Aid-of Racketeering and Other Crimes|access-date=2021-02-09}}
| allies = Rollin 40's and Rollin 90's NHCs
| rivals = Bloods, "Hoover factions", "Eight Trey Gangster Crip (83GC)"
}}
The Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips is a "set" of the Crips street gang alliance based in Los Angeles, California, originally formed around Hyde Park, Los Angeles in 1976 from the Westside Crips and having since spread to other cities in the United States.{{Cite web |title=Rollin 60s NeighborHood Crips in Los Angeles, California – Hyde Park area |url=https://www.streetgangs.com/crips/losangeles/r60scrips/ |access-date=August 7, 2024 |website=streetgangs.com}} Membership is estimated to be around 1,600 people, making it one of the largest gangs in the Los Angeles area.{{cite book|last=Covey|first=Herbert C. |title=Crips and Bloods: A Guide to an American Subculture: A Guide to an American Subculture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F5RzCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA159|date=2015|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39930-5|page=159}}
Members identify themselves by wearing the Seattle Mariners or Chicago White Sox logos and mark areas they are in with graffiti.
History
Two men identified as members of the Rollin' 60s were arrested for the 1984 murders of four members of professional football player Kermit Alexander's family. Police say the gang members got the address wrong and killed the wrong family.{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E6DE1039F936A35752C1A962948260|title=Two Gang Members Arrested In Alexander Family Killings|work=The New York Times|date=November 5, 1984}}
In 1988, a member of the Rollin' 60s was responsible for the death of Karen Toshima, who got caught in the crossfire between two gang members.{{Cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=John |last2=Kendall |first2=John |date=1989-12-02 |title=Toshima's Slayer Gets 27 Years to Life in Prison : Gangs: Woman was innocent victim of Westwood Village shooting in 1988. Incident shocked L.A. into the realization that street violence could occur anywhere. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-02-me-42-story.html |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
In 1992, Crips' Kingpin Keith "Stone" Thomas was killed. Around 400 people, including law enforcement, attended his funeral which prompted many to reflect on the bloodshed and actions of Rollin' 60s. Youth worker and activist Chilton Alphonse reflected on the change marked by Stone's death{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Jesse |date=1992-04-14 |title=COLUMN ONE : An Ethic Dies With Gang Chief : The stakes these days are drug money, not turf. The transformation has eroded the code of unity, and violence is out of control as member turns against member. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-14-mn-109-story.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}:
Once upon a time, the Rollin' 60s were a family. Now, I think a lot of these youngsters are beginning to question, is it really worth it.According to a news outlet in 2004, Rollin' 60s was "the largest black criminal street gang in the City of Los Angeles".{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041012065238/http://lang.dailynews.com/socal/gangs/articles/dnp5_culture.asp|archive-date=October 12, 2004|url=http://lang.dailynews.com/socal/gangs/articles/dnp5_culture.asp|title=Rollin 60s give unique window into gang culture|first=Beth|last=Barrett|work=Los Angeles Daily News|date=September 30, 2004}}
Notable members
- Musician, businessman, and community activist Nipsey Hussle was a member of the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/us/nipsey-hussle-death-california-gangs.html|title=Nipsey Hussle Was Hailed as a Hero. But to California Officials, He Was Still a Gangster.|last=Arango|first=Tim|date=2019-04-19|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-20|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|df=mdy-all}}
- Georgia rapper Quando Rondo is also a member of the Savannah branch of the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips and in June 2023 was arrested for having an alleged leadership role in the gang.{{Cite web|date=June 22, 2023|title=Rapper Quando Rondo detained after being indicted for drug, gang charges|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/06/22/rapper-quando-rondo-jail-drug-gang-charges-indictment/70346587007/|access-date=December 21, 2023|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}
- Music executive Eugene "Big U" Henley and father of Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley was arrested in December 1991.{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1992-07-21 |title=SOUTHWEST LOS ANGELES : Reputed Crips Chief Gets 23 Years in Robbery Try |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-21-me-4224-story.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He was a member before he was caught in a drug sting and sentenced to 23 years in prison.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-23 |title=Eugene 'Big U' Henley Speaks On Uniting Gangs, Community Service And Nipsey Hussle's Legacy |url=https://www.essence.com/news/eugene-big-u-henley-speaks-on-uniting-gangs-community-service-and-nipsey-hussles-legacy/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Essence |language=en-US}} Although he has never admitted to affiliation, "he was described by gang experts as a leader, if not the top man, of the Rollin' 60s," and he has been interviewed about the history of the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips. He founded the non-profit Developing Options Inc. after being released in 2004. Henley was once again arrested in March 2025 amid allegations he ran a "'mafia-like' racket" as a member of the Rollin' 60s.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title=Reputed L.A. gang leader posed as activist and music mogul while running deadly ‘mafia-like’ racket, feds say |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/reputed-los-angeles-gang-leader-indicted-connection-2021-slaying-crime-rcna197114 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=NBC News |language=en-US}}
- Keita Roc has a "Rollin' 60s" tattoo and spoke at Stone's funeral.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Crips}}
{{Organized crime groups in the United States}}
{{Organized crime groups in Los Angeles}}
Category:Organizations established in 1976
Category:1976 establishments in California
Category:African-American organized crime groups
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