Bigoted Cops, and the City that excused them: the Zoot Suit Riots 1942-1943 (part two)

                                  It's time to demythologise an era and build a new myth from the gutter to the stars. It's                                         time to embrace bad men and the price they paid to secretly define their time.
                                        ― James Ellroy, American Tabloid

I sure hope Mr. Ellroy doesn't mind my quoting some of his work.  It's just that I have the highest respect for him as an author, and an historian.  To my way of thinking, only Ellroy, and Raymond Chandler ever truly captured the spirit of the city that I love.

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The Zoot Suit Riots in L.A., began on June 3rd, 1943, finally ending on June 8th.  The riots involved primarily off duty servicemen, and Latino youths, and occurred in the aftermath of the Sleepy Lagoon Murder Trial.  What is interesting (and important) to note, is that the riots in L.A. were not an isolated incident.  Indeed, other cities were racked with violent racial unrest at relatively the same time:  Mobile, Alabama; Detroit, Michigan;  New York City.  The cause? Well, that's a vexed question, requiring an investigation into each instance, I'm afraid.  Let's just focus on Los Angeles, OK?

Right.  Let's begin.

The riots in LA occurred in the wake of the Sleepy Lagoon Murder Trial, as a reaction to both newspaper coverage, and the subsequent sentencing of the defendants (whom many believed were innocent.  Well, they were innocent).  While we've already got a taste for the type of reportage surrounding the trial, let's take one more quick look at some clips describing the riots themselves:

"Zoot War"?  Really?

And, this little gem...

Ummmm, let's take a closer look at that cartoon, OK?

Wow.  Inflammatory much?

How about this one:

from the Tuscon Daily Citizen, April 8th, 1943.

Oh, my.

Here's a close look at this, uh, 'description:

I mean, what was gonna be next? Paul Revere and his buddies shouting "The Regulars are coming! The Regulars are coming!"

Now, not all the publications were written by racist bastards.  There were some activists, like Orson Welles, who published a pamphlet in support of the Sleepy Lagoon defendants.  I strongly suggest that you check out this pamphlet:  https://oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=hb7779p4zc&brand=oac4&doc.view=entire_text

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On the evening of 6/3/43, a dozen servicemen took a bus to Main Street in L.A.  Strolling (or strutting?) along the boulevard, it was not long before the soldiers encountered a group of Latino youths wearing their zoot suits.  Predictably, an argument ensued.  Nobody was certain afterwards which group started the fight.  The LAPD was quick to respond--unfortunately, a number of off-duty cops (who called themselves the f*&king "Vengeance Squad" GAG) were involved.

As if this bullshit wasn't already a tragedy, more than two hundred soldiers went down to East L.A. on June 4th, randomly attacking any Latino youth who's clothing even suggested the style of a zoot suit.  With clubs.   One group of servicemen came upon some young kids, and stripped them of every strip of clothing they wore, piling them up and setting them on fire.

So where were the f*&king police? Well, Dear Reader, apparently, witnesses later reported that the police were right there with the attacking soldiers--but were apparently under orders not to interfere (although this last item would be virtually impossible to prove now).  Some residents later said that some policemen joined the rioters.

Even the cinema wasn't safe.  Witnesses later told reporters how soldiers broke into local movie houses, running around the theaters like chickens with their heads cut off, looking for any poor bloke wearing a zoot suit.

The media coverage, as we have seen, quickly took on the hysterical tone typical of any Hearst publication, and served to further whip up the passions/fears/hatred of those involved in the riots.  On both sides.  Nice job, Willie Randy Hearst, well done.

Here are a few more...I couldn't resist:

https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/collection/p15150coll7/id/40107

Are you shitting me?

Where oh where were the goddamned military police? Out at the local Jack in the Box eating onion rings? Grabbing a latte at Starbucks?

It wasn't until the 10th, that military authorities started to "crack down" on their boys:

The goddamned idiot rioters (read honkies) shot a 15 year old boy several times in the leg.  

Had enough yet, Dear Reader? Yeah, me too.  

But, we're not done yet with the stupidity of L.A. officials.  In the aftermath of the riots, they outlawed wearing the zoot suit within city limits.  Yeah, it's obvious that clothing leads immediately to murderous impulses, right? 

The importance of these riots to Angelino culture cannot be overestimated, and yet everyone in the city has forgotten them.  Should we ask why? I'll let you answer that one.

Today, there is a movement afoot to erect a memorial to the murder, and subsequent riots.  Here is one proposed design:

I'd like to see that built someday, and visit it.  I shall keep you posted, alright?