Berkeley gangs

Gangs in Berkeley, California are for the most part are found in the West and Southern portions of the city.

South Berkeley or "The Souf" is the traditionally African American side of Berkeley. The gang violence in Berkeley is often attributed to the South, although nearly 70% of violence in the city occurs in other areas. The gangs found in South Berkeley are The Hyenas, Smack Mobb, Berkeley Mobb, Kill-a-hoe, and various others. In Berkeleyʻs industrial district; West Berkeley, and specifically in The Waterfront (streets west of San Pablo Ave.) sometimes called H2O turf, the gangs are plenty. The ethnic makeup of West Berkeley is mostly African American and Latino, with an increasing influx of Cambodians, Tongans, and Filipinos. The gangs of West Berkeley are Front Boys H20 7th Street Mobb Warehouse gang, and part of the Nortenos gang in Northern California. There are gangs made up of members from different parts of the city as well. 5th Gang in a group with members from South and West Berkeley, and even parts of West and East Oakland, this type of gang involvement is common in Berkeley. The traditional gang wars in Berkeley occur between North Oakland Gangs such as the Polar Bears and South Berkeley Gangs such as Berkeley Mobb. Gangs in Berkeley are diminishing due to increasing rates of gentrification throughout the city.