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The Lunada Bay Boys or simply the Bay Boys, are a surfer gang in Palos Verdes Estates, California, known for their aggressive localism. The gang's territorialism of the Lunada Bay public beach has caused controversy in the legal and surfing worlds. Although the Bay Boys are more now known for their classification as a "criminal gang", the group had non-violent beginnings in the 1960s as a self-described surfing "family" or "fraternity". The Lunada Bay Boys have been dubbed the "most notorious surf gang in America" by some outlets.

History
The Bay Boys were initially started in the 1960s as a fraternity of local surfers in the Palos Verdes region. An anonymous member stated, "It was more like a big family. I wouldn’t call it a gang. We used to camp down there every other night. We would almost live down there." The group wasn't known for its localism during the 1960s, and surfers within the group were not as prone to violence. These members welcomed surfers from Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach as close allies. At the time, the Lunada Bay Boys wasn't the only surf crew in the city and neighbored the "Portuguese Bend crew" (Portuguese Bend Club) as well as the "Haggerty's crew" (Haggerty's Surfing Club) of their respective surf spots.

Around the time, localism of surf spots was considered common sense due to outside surfers often causing boards to fall in the rocks due to lack of leashes at the time. Big wave surfing pioneer Greg Noll as well as U.S. champion Mike Purpus of Redondo Beach would surf with the Bay Boys in Lunada Bay during this era. Around this time, members would hang out on a rock ledge, however in the late 60s, a stone balcony was created on the shoreline of Lunada Bay, as a hangout for local surfers (often referred to as their "fort").

In the 1970s a leadership shift happened in which older members moved away, and newer members surfaced into leadership. Older members of the group were stated to have "kept it safe and sane", whereas the newer leadership began to hassle outsiders more directly. Members of the Bay Boys stated they would "DIE BY" the group's "terms of engagement" and "rules" that had been established in the 1970s, to defend "their turf" from outsiders.

Culture
In the 1960's the Lunada Bay Boys culture was mostly nonviolent and held close alliances with the neighboring Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach. Activities of the original generation included camping down at the beach, fishing, diving, or shaping their surf boards in their shops. Becoming a member of the group was more relaxed and involved no more than to be a local.

In present tense, half or possibly a quarter of local surfers who surf in the Lunada Bay area are considered members of the Lunada Bay Boys. These locals have been described as beneficiaries who don't need to look for work due to inheriting significant sums of money from deceased relatives. An anonymous local from the area stated, "they hang down on the cliff and drink and do blow and fucken [sic] speed and all this shit, y’know."

The gang has also been documented to have hazing rituals of initiation. One of these rituals involves drinking urine to show dedication to "joining their fraternity". In addition the group established its own "terms of engagement" in the 1970s to protect "their turf". The Lunada Bay Boys have stated they view themselves as "family members," friends, and "pirate[s]", and consider Lunada Bay their "church/home/sanctuary/temple".

The Lunada Bay Boys are considered a multi-generational gang. Attorney Vic Otten stated, "You're seeing the young kids go out there and be enforcers. It's not the 40 or 50 year old guys that going out there slashing tires, but it's them teaching their children how to do it so they don't have to."

Legality and lawsuits
The Palos Verdes Estates Police Department has been criticized for not taking affective legal action against the Lunada Bay Boys.

Palos Verdes Estates Police Chief Jeff Kepley agreed there was possibly truth to the group's status as a street gang but was met with criticism from locals when trying to take steps against the group. This included letters to the City Manager from three of the Bay Boys, Michael Thiel, Charlie Mowat, and Michael S. Papayans. Mowat stated that Kepley was attempting to "railroad the local surfers that have policed and protected these shores for over 5 decades!" Upon this criticism, Kepley loosened up his stance against the group.

Surfer Christopher Taloa was told "Many current and former City police officers grew up with Bay Boys" and that they "own the cops."

Diana Milena Reed and her lawyer filed a lawsuit against the Bay Boys for sexual harassment. It was stated by Reed that members filmed her and said she was "sexy" and "excited them", in addition to comments about their genitals in a sexually-suggestive manner.