THE 8OTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOS ANGELES ZOOT ZOOT RIOTS
By Magdaleno Leno Rose-Avila
On June 3rd I searched for 93 year old Dolores Huerta President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers Union. Dolores was to be the Grand Marshall of the parade. I finally got to the corner of Whittier and Soto where there were at least a hundred low rider cars with men and women dressed in Classic Zoot Zoot style. It was a beautiful sight.
At the front of the lineup was Dolores and LA County Commissioner Hilda Soliz surrounded by media whose cameras and questions tried to consume every smile and sound bite.
Just to be clear the Zoot Zooters did not cause a riot. Navy sailors and other military personnel enraged by false reports of the actions of Pachucos (Mexican Youth) and in particular Zoot Zooters. These MEXICANS had taken a stylized sharp dress style that seemed to infuriate the media and the police. The Zoot Zooters were a classy bunch of dressers. And the hair styles of the women were amazing.
In June of 1943 American military entered east Los Angeles with clubs and other instruments seeking out those Zoot Zooters with which to beat them, Stripping some of them down to their underwear. Of course some of these strong men and women resisted and were clubbed mercifully.
Meanwhile the LAPD (POLICE) stood by and allowed this abuse to take place right in front of their eyes. It is said that on occasion Police cars led the trucks loaded with the military into the Barrio.
It is ironic that at the same time many Mexican Americans were serving in all branches of the military.
Our American history has many dark chapters where the established white community burns down or intimidates Black, Latino and First Nation Peoples.
Soon Mexican youth who were outnumbered began staying home at night to avoid humiliation and violence.
After 10 days the military soldiers were restricted to their barracks and the fighting ended.
Later that month the LA Times ran a brief about a news conference at which the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said the riots had roots in long-standing discrimination. “For a longtime” she said “I’ve worried about the attitude toward Mexicans in California and the states along the border “
The best name perhaps for the 10 days should be called The MILITARY RIOT OF 1943 AGAINST MEXICAN CITZENS.
The city of Los Angeles needs to establish a monument to the Zoot community and perhaps make it a city wide day of commemoration. And for the next parade perhaps demand a marching color guard and military band as part of the parade and have the Navy present a formal certificate of apology.
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