What caused the Zoot Suit Riots?
Document A (Modified)
Near-martial law in L.A. riot zones
Los Angeles Daily News
June 9, 1943
Harold Tabor, 32, Long Beach sailor, was severely beaten by a gang of zooters at 103rd and Graham St. He suffered a broken nose and serious facial cuts.
"I was passing a poolhall on the way to a grocery store when the gang hopped (jumped) me, " he said.
Two soldiers and a Negro zoot suiter were taken into custody after a riot at the corner of Second and Spring streets. Police continued to search for others. Police ordered groups of more than three to "break it up" everywhere in the downtown area. Police officers were stationed on every corner and the city resembled martial law rule. Squads of riot breakers roamed the city, trying to solve the zoot suit problem.
Navy shore patrol officers walked in and out of bars, dancehalls, drugstores, bus stations.
One of the most serious outbreaks of terrorism occurred in Watts. There, three trains were stoned by pachucos. One person was cut seriously. A few minutes later, nearly every window of an outbound Long Beach two-car train was smashed when it was caught in a crossfire of pachuco stoning.
Gangsterism in Watts continued into the early hours of today. Twelve Negroes ambushed a 17-year-old white high school student, asked him if he was a "zoot suiter" and when he said "no" the fight started. The victim, Joe M. Steddum of 8834 Banders St., Watts, received a five-inch cut on his left forehead.
A Navy commander of the 11th Naval district in San Diego stated the following:
"Until further notice, except for special occasions approved by the commanding officer, the city of Los Angeles will be out of bounds for all enlisted personnel of the naval services not attached to the stations within this city, or in travel status.
Zoot suiters are being arrested in all parts of L.A. County. Many have been caught with weapons such as knives hidden in their pants. Many sailors and servicemen have victims of violence and casualties from the pachuco hoodlums.
Document A (Modified)
Near-martial law in L.A. riot zones
Los Angeles Daily News
June 9, 1943
Harold Tabor, 32, Long Beach sailor, was severely beaten by a gang of zooters at 103rd and Graham St. He suffered a broken nose and serious facial cuts.
"I was passing a poolhall on the way to a grocery store when the gang hopped (jumped) me, " he said.
Two soldiers and a Negro zoot suiter were taken into custody after a riot at the corner of Second and Spring streets. Police continued to search for others. Police ordered groups of more than three to "break it up" everywhere in the downtown area. Police officers were stationed on every corner and the city resembled martial law rule. Squads of riot breakers roamed the city, trying to solve the zoot suit problem.
Navy shore patrol officers walked in and out of bars, dancehalls, drugstores, bus stations.
One of the most serious outbreaks of terrorism occurred in Watts. There, three trains were stoned by pachucos. One person was cut seriously. A few minutes later, nearly every window of an outbound Long Beach two-car train was smashed when it was caught in a crossfire of pachuco stoning.
Gangsterism in Watts continued into the early hours of today. Twelve Negroes ambushed a 17-year-old white high school student, asked him if he was a "zoot suiter" and when he said "no" the fight started. The victim, Joe M. Steddum of 8834 Banders St., Watts, received a five-inch cut on his left forehead.
A Navy commander of the 11th Naval district in San Diego stated the following:
"Until further notice, except for special occasions approved by the commanding officer, the city of Los Angeles will be out of bounds for all enlisted personnel of the naval services not attached to the stations within this city, or in travel status.
Zoot suiters are being arrested in all parts of L.A. County. Many have been caught with weapons such as knives hidden in their pants. Many sailors and servicemen have victims of violence and casualties from the pachuco hoodlums.
Vocabulary
Pachuco: Mexican-American zoot suiter
Pachuco: Mexican-American zoot suiter
Document B (Modified)
The Battle Between Marines and Pachucos
La Opinión
June 9, 1943
The Coordinator of Latin-American Youths . . . informed us . . . that during a meeting in which the situation created by the riots between the "pachucos" and the marines was discussed, a decision was reached to send the following telegram to the Head of the Office of War Information in Washington and to the Head of the Division of Foreign Languages, of the same office, and to President Roosevelt at the White House. Here is the message:
Since last Thursday evening various groups of marines and soldiers have attacked Mexican zoot suiters throughout the city of Los Angeles. Although the youth did nothing to provoke the attack or for that matter to resist the attack, many were severely wounded, including women and children. Supposedly the attack has been motivated by past conflicts between the two groups and has been amplified by the press claiming that Mexican youths have been disrespectful toward the servicemen, a claim without any foundation.
Despite precautions taken on the part of the military police and local authorities to
control the situation, the servicemen continue to walk the streets of Los Angeles armed
with clubs and appear to be tacitly supported by many city and local officials in charge
of keeping the peace; their attacks have now expanded to include blacks. This situation,
which is prompting racial antagonism between the Mexican, Anglo-Saxon and Black
communities will undoubtedly have grave international repercussions which will
inevitably damage the war effort and thwart the gains made by the Good Neighbor
policy. We urge immediate intervention by the Office of War Information so that it
moderates the local press which has openly approved of these mutinies and which is
treating this situation in a manner that is decidedly inflammatory.The Battle Between Marines and Pachucos
La Opinión
June 9, 1943
The Coordinator of Latin-American Youths . . . informed us . . . that during a meeting in which the situation created by the riots between the "pachucos" and the marines was discussed, a decision was reached to send the following telegram to the Head of the Office of War Information in Washington and to the Head of the Division of Foreign Languages, of the same office, and to President Roosevelt at the White House. Here is the message:
Since last Thursday evening various groups of marines and soldiers have attacked Mexican zoot suiters throughout the city of Los Angeles. Although the youth did nothing to provoke the attack or for that matter to resist the attack, many were severely wounded, including women and children. Supposedly the attack has been motivated by past conflicts between the two groups and has been amplified by the press claiming that Mexican youths have been disrespectful toward the servicemen, a claim without any foundation.
Vocabulary
Good Neighbor Policy: Foreign policy adopted by the U.S. under President Franklin Roosevelt in which the U.S. said it would not intervene in Latin American countries’ affairs.
mutiny: rebellion by soldiers against the orders of their officers
Good Neighbor Policy: Foreign policy adopted by the U.S. under President Franklin Roosevelt in which the U.S. said it would not intervene in Latin American countries’ affairs.
mutiny: rebellion by soldiers against the orders of their officers
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Discussion:
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According to Document A, who caused the riots? (pachucos)
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According to Document B, who caused the riots? (servicemen and the
press)
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Is one more reliable than the other?
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Does Document A support the claim that the press was, in fact, “decidedly
inflammatory”? How?
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Why did the Coordinator of Latin American Youth decide to send a
telegram to the Office of War Information? What does this tell you about the seriousness of the riots? How could this have affected U.S.-Mexico relations?
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How did the context of WWII influence the riots?
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What more would you want to know about this time period to understand
what happened better?
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According to Document A, who caused the riots? (pachucos)
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