User:Celticpaganmetalhead/sandbox

The Independent Skins is a street gang from Costa Mesa, California. They are allies of the vicious prison gang, the Nazi Low Riders (NLR) and the Sureños as well as other prison gangs such as Public Enemy No.1, the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia. Their biggest rivals are the Bloods, Crips, Vatos Locos, MS-13, Norteños 18th Street gang and Nuestra Familia. The Independent Skins are regarded as the most violent gang in Southern California. They have also spreaded throughout other States such as Nevada and Texas. Independent Skins have been conducted drug trafficking, armed robbery, and assaults

History
In the early 90s in Southern California, the Nazi Low Riders gained exposure on Fox 11 news. As law enforcement agencies began cracking down on the Nazi Low Riders, many other white Nazi gangs around Southern California began forming. While the NLR and PEN1 being locked down at maximum security prisons, the Independent Skins rose to existence. The Nazi Low Riders needed some hired muscle to conduct business in the streets and the Independent Skins stepped up.

Criminal Activities
The Independent Skins are primarily drug trafficking. But they also commit insurance fraud, assault, hate crimes, money laundering, drug dealing and murder. When the Independent Skins are imprisoned, they tend to be recruited into the NLR.

Allies and Rivals
The Independent Skins are allies with the Nazi Low Riders and Sureños. Other gangs included such as Public Enemy No. 1, Aryan Brotherhood, the Mexican Mafia. In 2005, the Independent Skins was then joined in the Southern California Skinhead Alliance (SoCal Skins).

Their rivals include Crips, Bloods, Nuestra Familia, Black Guerilla Family, Norteños, MS-13, 18th Street, Vatos Locos, Friends Stand United, and white power skinheads.

Symbology and Identification
The Independent Skins uses symbols based on Nazism, such as the Swastika, SS lightning bolts and the Totenkopf. Other symbols include the acronym, "SWP" (Supreme White Power), and the number 828.