The Aryan Brotherhood (AB), also known as the Brand, is a white supremacist prison gang and organized crime syndicate in the United States. It was founded in the California state prison system in 1964, primarily at San Quentin State Prison, as a response to the perceived need for white inmates to band together in the face of increasing racial tensions within the prison system. Over the decades, the Aryan Brotherhood has grown into one of the most feared and powerful prison gangs in the country.

The Aryan Brotherhood was formed in the mid-1960s by white inmates who sought protection from other racial groups, particularly African American and Hispanic gangs. Initially, the group adopted a strong white supremacist ideology, drawing inspiration from Nazi symbolism and imagery. Members typically display tattoos featuring swastikas, SS lightning bolts, and other white supremacist symbols, often combined with the initials "AB."

The Aryan Brotherhood operates under a hierarchical structure, with a council or "commission" of senior members making key decisions for the gang. At the lower levels, members are organized into smaller units within individual prisons, but all are bound by a strict code of conduct that emphasizes loyalty, secrecy, and a willingness to commit acts of extreme violence.

While the AB started as a prison gang, its influence extends beyond prison walls. Members are involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, contract killings, and arms trafficking. The gang has also been known to collaborate with other criminal organizations, including the Mexican Mafia (La Eme) and the Hells Angels, despite their racial ideology, when it suits their criminal objectives.

Although the Aryan Brotherhood was founded on white supremacist principles, its primary focus is criminal enterprise rather than ideological purity. The gang uses racism as a tool to recruit and motivate members, but in practice, it has shown a willingness to cooperate with non-white gangs when it benefits them financially or strategically.

The Aryan Brotherhood has been linked to numerous violent crimes, both inside and outside of prison. These include murders, assaults, and riots. In the 1970s and 1980s, the gang solidified its reputation for brutality, often using murder as a way to enforce discipline and eliminate rivals. High-profile murders attributed to the Aryan Brotherhood include the killing of prison gang leaders from rival groups and the assassination of inmates who cooperated with authorities.

One of the most infamous incidents involving the Aryan Brotherhood was the federal indictment of 40 members in 2002, which sought to dismantle the gang's leadership. Despite these efforts, the Aryan Brotherhood remains a potent force within the U.S. prison system.

In this episode, we learn about "The Brand".

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