Backgrounder: A Brief History of the “Bloods” Gangs

By Rupert Deedes

The arrest of nine members of the violent “Bloods” gang in Huntington, raises questions about the gang:

The Bloods emerged in Los Angeles in the early 1970s as a loose coalition of neighborhood gangs formed largely in response to the growing power of the rival “Crips” gang.

Rather than a single hierarchical organization, the Bloods developed as a confederation of local sets, united by opposition to the Crips and by shared symbols (notably the color red).

From the outset, Bloods sets were decentralized, territorial, and locally governed, with norms and leadership varying block by block

As gang culture spread beyond Southern California—via migration, incarceration, and media—Bloods-affiliated sets appeared in cities across the U.S. Unlike some criminal organizations, Bloods groups rarely answered to a national command; adapted to local criminal economies (drugs, robberies, later firearms trafficking); and frequently splintered, merged, or rebranded.

By the 1990s, “Bloods” had become a shared identity more than a unified organization.

Birth of the United Blood Nation (1993)

In contrast to the West Coast model, the United Blood Nation (UBN) emerged in New York State prisons, particularly Rikers Island, in the early 1990s.

UBN was founded by incarcerated individuals seeking protection inside jail; organizational leverage against rival groups; and a structured identity transplanted from West Coast lore.

Unlike LA Bloods, UBN developed a more formal hierarchy, codes, oaths, and rank structures; and strong prison–street feedback loops.

This makes New York–area Bloods institutionally distinct from their West Coast counterparts.

Bloods-Affiliated Gangs in New York and the Northeast

In New York, Bloods-affiliated gangs function along a street–prison continuum: prison identity shapes street organization; street conflicts follow inmates back into custody; leadership often rotates between incarceration and release.

Bloods-affiliated groups in New York are typically block-based (often named after streets or housing complexes); semi-autonomous; and linked loosely to UBN identity rather than controlled by it.

Examples include small neighborhood crews in Brooklyn and Queens; hybrid gangs on Long Island combining local membership with Bloods branding; and groups whose “Bloods” identity is more cultural than organizational.

Over time, Bloods-affiliated gangs in the Northeast have diversified beyond drugs into firearms trafficking; robbery and extortion; sex trafficking and exploitation; retaliatory shootings tied to personal disputes rather than turf alone.

Law enforcement has increasingly emphasized that violence is often personal, not strategic, making these gangs unpredictable.

Long Island and Suburban Adaptation

Bloods-affiliated gangs on Long Island represent a newer phase of gang diffusion: Smaller population bases; fewer traditional urban drug markets; and greater reliance on violence, intimidation, and ancillary crimes (including trafficking).

These gangs often recruit younger members, use social media to signal affiliation, and finance weapons through non-drug enterprises.

The recent Huntington Station arrests reflect this pattern: local crews with Bloods identity engaging in serious violence and organized exploitation rather than classic narcotics empires.

Structural Characteristics (Why Bloods Gangs Persist)

Across regions, Bloods-affiliated gangs share several features that explain their durability:

1. Low centralizationMakes dismantling leadership less decisive.

2. Identity over institution“Bloods” functions as a brand, not a chain of command.

3. Prison reinforcementIncarceration often strengthens, rather than dissolves, affiliation.

4. AdaptabilityActivities shift with law-enforcement pressure and local opportunity.

Prosecutors and gang investigative units increasingly describe Bloods-affiliated gangs as violent micro-networks; connected by symbolism, reputation, and retaliation; and less like traditional organized crime, more like persistent violent ecosystems.

This understanding explains why recent cases—particularly in New York—combine cold-case homicide investigations; firearms charges; human trafficking prosecutions; and multi-agency task forces.

In Sum

The Bloods began as a localized defensive coalition in 1970s Los Angeles. Over five decades, they evolved into a loosely connected national identity with regionally distinct forms. In New York and the Northeast, the rise of the United Blood Nation created a more hierarchical prison-based variant, while suburban areas like Long Island saw smaller, more volatile crews blending gang identity with opportunistic violence and exploitation.

Understanding this history is essential to understanding why Bloods-affiliated gangs remain dangerous—not because they are centrally powerful, but because they are fragmented, adaptive, and deeply embedded in local social and prison systems.