Zoot Suit Riots flared from racial antagonism in 1940s Los Angeles

Racial Justice

By Judge Ramon Ocasio III

Judge Ramon Ocasio III has served as a judge for 15 years and is acting presiding judge for the 4th Municipal District for the Cook County Circuit Court. He was named Catholic Lawyer of the Year by the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago.

Posted May 19, 2022 12:06 PM

(This is part one of a two-part series. Part two will run Thursday, May 26.)On May 30, 1943, the first of a series of what became known as the Zoot Suit Riots erupted between white sailors and Mexican youth in Los Angeles. While the attacks on Zoot Suiters focused mostly on Pachucos — Mexican-Americans who wore zoot suits or similar attire — no Mexican was immune from attack, zoot suit or not. Even boys as young as 12 and 13 years old were beaten up.Los Angeles in the 1940s was a cauldron of different …

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