The Purple Gang

The Purple Gang was a notorious group of bootleggers and hijackers, with predominantly Jewish members. They operated in Detroit, Michigan, during the 1920s of the Prohibition era, and came to be Detroit's dominant criminal gang.

History

The Purple Gang was formed in 1910 by brothers Abe Bernstein, Joe Bernstein, Ray Bernstein, and Izzy Bernstein. They were originally a group of juvenile street thugs in Detroit's lower east side. The gang members were mostly the children of immigrants from Eastern Europe, primarily Russia and Poland, who had come to the United States in the great immigration wave from 1881 to 1914.

Activities

The Purple Gang started as petty thieves and extortionists before they graduated to major crimes. They became involved in the illegal distribution of alcohol during the Prohibition era. The gang members were known for their violent methods and their willingness to kill anyone who got in their way. The gang was involved in a variety of criminal activities including hijacking, bootlegging, kidnapping, and murder.

Decline and Dissolution

The Purple Gang's power waned in the late 1920s and 1930s due to law enforcement and internal disputes. Many members were sent to prison, and by the end of the 1930s, the gang was virtually disbanded.

Legacy

The Purple Gang left a lasting legacy in the annals of American organized crime. They were one of the most ruthless and feared criminal organizations in the history of American organized crime. They were also one of the most successful criminal enterprises during the Prohibition era.

See also

• Prohibition in the United States
• Organized crime
• Crime in the United States

External links

• Prohibition: The Rise and Fall of the Purple Gang