Umm, are those gang signs in Chicago's new sticker?

Chicago vehicle sticker design that purportedly contains symbolism tied to the Maniac Latin Disciples.

Chicago's city clerk on Tuesday said she would mull over what to do about the upcoming vehicle sticker design that purportedly contains symbolism tied to the Maniac Latin Disciples.

"My office is investigating the facts and will look further into the allegations before I determine what action to take regarding the 2012–2013 city sticker design," said Susana Mendoza.

More than 18,000 people voted for the 2012-2013 design, which pays homage to police officers, paramedics and firefighters, and features the Chicago skyline, the city flag and a series of outstretched hands.

For more, visit NBCChicago.com

But within those outstretched hands are gestures that police sources and police blogs say resemble the hand signs often flashed by Maniac Latin Disciples, along with other iconography, including a heart and pitchforks.

"I am concerned about the recent developments regarding the city vehicle sticker design," Mendoza said in a written statement. "... the artwork on Chicago’s city stickers should not be controversial. In a design that is meant to honor the city’s first responders, I am very sensitive to this issue. I grew up in a neighborhood filled with crime and gang violence and I come from a law enforcement family."

The Chicago Police Department late Tuesday evening said the "matter has been brought to our attention" and is being investigated.

The upcoming design is the first sticker approved by Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration.

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Are they a part of the Van Buren Boys gang?

    Reply#57 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:22 PM EST

    People will always project what they think they see in things whether it is so or it isn't. I guess we'll have to make a new law that prohibits the showing of hands in paintings, drawings and photographs - that way there will be no possibility of there being any gang signs shown. Maybe that's why the hands are missing from some of the ancient Greek and Roman statues - some of the emperors thought they saw some wicked Gaul gang signs being used?

      Reply#58 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:23 PM EST

      My office is investigating the facts and will look further into the allegations before I determine what action to take regarding the 2012–2013 city sticker design," said Susana Mendoza.

      Duh you think so another thug in Chicago politics

      • 2 votes
      Reply#59 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:26 PM EST

      Ok, it's a dorky looking image that appears to have been drawn by a bored junior high schooler doodling in class when he should have been paying attention to the teacher but beyond that I don't see anything nefarious about it. If they're scared of the hands just link them in a circle. Oh, and get a professional commercial illustrator to draw the thing.

      • 1 vote
      Reply#60 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:28 PM EST

      East of Eden - The city sticker art *IS* drawn by kids. It has been a citywide event for a long time. The inner gets some money for their higher education.

      We vaule our children and the arts in Chicago...

        #60.1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 3:27 PM EST

        Well that explains it. I must have missed the part about the kids drawing the image. I was too busy trying to figure out what the fuss was all about. I've seen more threatening hand gestures on JC Penny mannequins.

          #60.2 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 4:46 PM EST
          Reply

          Police are the biggest and meanest gang on the streets, they can't be getting dissed by those pesky latino gangs!

          • 1 vote
          Reply#61 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:30 PM EST

          Chicago has been run by organized crime for more than 100 years.....why not put criminal symbolism on the city sticker?

          • 2 votes
          Reply#62 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:33 PM EST

          Bingo!!!!

          • 1 vote
          #62.1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:41 PM EST
          Reply

          Gotta hand it to the little 'bangers -- they tried hard to disguise their ulterior agenda. Having taught in the Chicago Public School system for 10 years, in an inner-city HS, I know gang signs when I see them: Look closely at the crossed fingers -- BINGO: gang sign #1. Then, look at the outstretched hands above the heart symbolizing, as much as they could, a heart with horns (gang sign #2). Even the light blue color is indicative of that gang's colors. The city has every right to reject this POS. Just hope administrators have the guts to do it.

          • 4 votes
          Reply#63 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:38 PM EST

          ANYONE can make ANYTHING out of WHATEVER! Maybe it's gang signs, maybe it's not. Get Real! Are we to stop and question every atom,every particle,every spot of a given substance? Ok Let's examine. Crossed fingers-could be gang sign or it could be hope or just plain old crossed fingers. outstretched hands above the heart- could be a heart with horns(Lol) or it could be hands outstretched , displaying hope that just so happens to be above the heart and looks like it could be a heart with horns or it could just be a nice drawing(sorry if the artist can't specify what he really meant. Come on folks gang signs or not we can't pick at straws otherwise art may be extinct!! Simple solution: ASK the ARTIST what were the intentions...Oh! Wow! is that ALL! Lol at Chicago and their paranoid responses......

          • 1 vote
          #63.1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:27 PM EST
          Reply

          Put these 2 crooks on the sticker Barack Obama & Rahm Emanuel

          • 3 votes
          Reply#64 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:39 PM EST

          First of all, the "artwork is pathetic anyway!" It looks like it was drawn by some elementary school kids.

          As far as "symbolism" goes, let's get real...

          Chicago is swimming... no DROWNING in Gang Violence, Corruption and Bribery of ALL Elected and Appointed Public Officials... so seriously, let's stop posturing and playing make believe.

          Tell us exactly, "What is the question?"

          How or why could anyone, let alone political figures in Chicago EVER get offended about a simple picture?

          Firefighters? Firefighters always deserve the highest recognition to honor their bravery.

          EMT's? Sure, they provide a valuable service, but they're just doing the job they chose.

          Chicago Po-lice? The best way to represent the Chicago cops is to show one hand placing a fistful of money (or just a thick envelope) in to the hand of a Senior Police Department Official, such as the Commissioner or Mayor:-)

          Like HELLO! It is Chicago! the land of the "Daley family", one of the most vile, corrupt political families that ever existed in the History of the USA. "The Chicago way" is a commonly accepted term for the way "things get done" in Chi-town.

          The idea that "anyone is offended" is LAUGHABLE to say the least.

          Get real!

          • 1 vote
          Reply#65 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:40 PM EST

          Speedy - You may want to stop before you embarrass yourself anymore with your ignorance.

            #65.1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 3:29 PM EST
            Reply

            Figures... 'Minority' community. Dark hands, what would you expect from Rahm Emanuel (the name says it all) & the Dems of Chicago.

            • 3 votes
            Reply#66 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:41 PM EST

            Although from an entirely different perspective, the hidden artwork here, eerily reminds me of the infamous, symbolic, origami type folding of the the U.S. $20 bill soon after the attack of September, 11, 2001. Anyone familiar with this can attest to the fact that, if folded in a specific manner, detailed illusions of two smoldering buildings are clearly visible on these folded $20 bills. Call me crazy, but there was indeed within our treasury department, some mathematical, graphic, intentional, symbolic, anti-American holography in the design of this particular currency. This symbolic depiction on these $20 bills was not by chance, but by design, just as these gang symbols on Chicago's sticker. Can you say, suggestive, subliminal, semantics?

            • 1 vote
            Reply#67 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:42 PM EST

            dream on people. Those hand are normal hands stretched out to grasp something. There are no innuendos of any gang gestures there......

            • 2 votes
            Reply#68 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:45 PM EST

            O253, please remain out there in the woods. You are not remotely qualified to live or even visit an urban area rife with drugs, gangs, and violence. Stay put, you are decidedly safer in your own element.

            • 1 vote
            #68.1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:51 PM EST

            No, 253 -- YOU dream on. Clearly, you've been living in a sod hut for most of your life, or are just scared to admit the obvious. Best you stay where you are, in your safe little bubble.

            • 2 votes
            #68.2 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:24 PM EST
            Reply

            I live in the Chicagoland all my life and I see only 1 gang symbol it tied to, the Maniac Latin Disciples. MLD has a few signs but the one they use the most is the heart with devil horns which you can see on the sticker with the heart and two pair of hands. Their gang colors are Baby Blue also which make it stand out more.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#69 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:47 PM EST

            Being Chicago I am surprised they aren't all flashing the bird !!

              Reply#70 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:48 PM EST

              This isn't quite as bad as the inmates putting a pig on the police car stickers in Vermont. It was too funny. I was not allowed to put a link here but just search and you will find it.

              • 1 vote
              Reply#71 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:50 PM EST

              look at Maniac Latin Disciples gang signs and then look at the sticker again

              • 1 vote
              Reply#72 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:51 PM EST

              EXACTLY.

              • 1 vote
              #72.1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:25 PM EST
              Reply

              That's an easy fix. Just draw handcuffs on them.

              • 1 vote
              Reply#74 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:55 PM EST

              Comon.....its CHICAGO....

              Why is this a surprise??

              • 1 vote
              Reply#75 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:55 PM EST

              i find it funny that the pig colored hand is reaching for the police hat...

              • 1 vote
              Reply#76 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 1:58 PM EST

              That's an ugly sticker anyway! They should redo the whole thing, it just looks terrible!

              Plus I sure don't consider you a hero just because your wearing a uniform.

                Reply#77 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:03 PM EST

                Is this truth in advertising or what???????????

                • 1 vote
                Reply#78 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:04 PM EST

                Redraw the hand. Man this is too easy, I should be running this place.

                • 1 vote
                Reply#79 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:04 PM EST

                IF that is what you are looking for, maybe. At first glance i see hands in the air from all the different people from Chicago, Ill. Isn't the John Hancock building shorter than the Sears tower?

                  Reply#80 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:06 PM EST

                  sheep..

                    #80.1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:29 PM EST
                    Reply

                    I would've guessed it was Vice Lords.

                    plainly a symbol though, not just an open hand.

                    Btw, I'm not just "grasping at straws" or guessing, I've been a prison guard for 17 years, I know a gang sign when I see one.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#81 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:12 PM EST

                    Maybe they just need to add more rainbows and unicorns....

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#82 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:15 PM EST
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