The Almighty Insane Popes Nation is a

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

street gang A gang is a group or society of associates, friends or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over territory in a community and engages, either individually or collectivel ...

, formed in the late 1950s on the north side of

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, primarily building membership from a Greek greaser gang that hung out at the corner of Lawrence and Rockwell. This small group had problems with the much larger Latin Kings gang on the north side, and so they began to associate with the Almighty Simon City Royals in an attempt to protect themselves. However, rather than joining the Royals outright, they eventually decided to form their own gang, which they named the Popes: this stood for "Protecting Our People Eliminating

Spic ''Spic'' (also spelled ''spick'') is an ethnic slur used in the United States for people from Latin American countries and states. Etymology Some sources from the United States believe that the word ''spic'' is a play on a Spanish-accented pron ...

s" (eventually the racial slur would be replaced by "scum" when the Popes ceased to be a racist gang and began inviting Latinos and African Americans to join).

Expansion

By the mid 1970s the Popes' main membership consisted of many Poles from the Albany Park/Lincoln Square neighborhood, and German, Irish, and Scandinavians in the Portage Park, Jefferson Park, and Mayfair neighborhoods. At their peak in the mid-1960s to early 1970s, they had 300–500 members. In the 1980s, news reports indicated that some members were the children of

Chicago Fire Department The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) provides fire suppression, rescue services, Hazardous Materials Response services and emergency medical response services to the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chi ...

firefighters and

Chicago Police Department The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is the municipal law enforcement agency of the U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois, under the jurisdiction of the City Council. It is the second-largest municipal police department in the United States, behind t ...

officers.

South Side Almighty Insane Popes

In the mid 1970s, some accounts claim the nation leader, Larry "Larkin" Morris, started a new branch on the south side. In 1975, Larkin was killed by members of the

Almighty Gaylords The Almighty Gaylords Nation, is a Chicago street gang which was most active during the mid and late 20th century. It originated on the intersection of Grand Avenue and Noble Street in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. The original president of ...

. The north side Insane Popes formed even stronger alliance with the

Simon City Royals The Simon City Royals, also known as the Almighty Simon City Royal Nation, are a street and prison gang which began in Chicago during 1952 as Simon City, a greaser gang. They named themselves for Simons Park, which is located on the corner of ...

, and called this “DAB”. The Royals joined the Folks Nation, and the Almighty Insane Popes Nation eventually did also. However, the south side branch, who hated the Satan Disciples and Two-Six gangs who were Folks Nation members, became a renegade faction, even going so far as to join the rival

People Nation People Nation is an alliance of street gangs generally associated with the Chicago area. They are rivals of the Folk Nation alliance of gangs. Formation The People Nation was formed in reaction to the creation of the Folk Nation alliance of gang ...

alliance and severing ties completely with the north side Almighty Insane Popes Nation.

Modern day

Today the North Side Popes' main rivals are the Latin Kings, and the South Side Popes' main rivals are the

Spanish Cobras The Spanish Cobras is a primarily, but not exclusively, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Latino gang started by Puerto Rican teenagers in Chicago during the late 1950s. The Insane Spanish Cobra Nation are members of the Folks alliance and consider ...

, Satan Disciples, and Gangster Two-Six. As of 2022, the North Side Popes have territory in Budlong Woods and North Park, while the South Side Popes have active territory in McKinley Park, Vittum Park, and Mt. Greenwood. The North Side Popes remain allied with the Folk Nation, while the south side Popes remain allied with the People Nation. South Side Popes wear

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

apparel or black and white and Pittsburgh pirates hats. North Side Popes wear baby-blue and black, showing allegiance to the Royals with whom they retain close ties.

References

External links

Insane Popes - Larkin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Popes Organizations established in the 1950s 1950s establishments in Illinois Folk Nation Street gangs European-American gangs Gangs in Chicago European-American culture in Chicago

Expansion

South Side Almighty Insane Popes

Modern day

See also

References

External links