On Friday, the Los Angeles City Council will formally condemn the “Zoot Suit Riots” of 1943 and apologize for the mistreatment of Mexican Americans during that time. Councilman Kevin de León, accompanied by community leaders, “pachucos” (zoot suiters), and Chicanas, will introduce the resolution in the Council Chamber and commemorate June 3-9 as “Zoot Suit Heritage Week” in Los Angeles.
The violence began on May 31, 1943 when a group of servicemen clashed with Mexican American youth wearing zoot suits in downtown L.A. Three days later, the violence escalated, resulting in a series of attacks against the Mexican American community, including Boyle Heights. More than 50 individuals were injured and over 500 Mexican Americans were arrested. Sailors stripped victims of their zoot suits and burned their clothes, in a degrading attack on their identity and culture.
The statement by de León’s office emphasized that “these events exposed the deep-rooted racism and prejudice that permeated society at that time, revealing the systemic injustice the Mexican American community faced.” Later that year, U.S. servicemen were banned from the area and the council backed a resolution – never codified as a law – that prohibited zoot suits in the city.
Friday’s presentation will feature zoot suit dancers, and the council’s ceremony will be the culmination of a week of Zoot Suit Riot-related events. Pachuco culture enthusiasts Manny Alcarez and Miguel Vera Lopez of the Chicano Moratorium Committee, along with representatives from the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, are expected to speak.
In May, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors also approved a motion to denounce the devastation of the Zoot Suit Riots and recognize it as a dark chapter in the county’s history, committing to fighting against racial discrimination. This resolution and apology by the Los Angeles City Council is a step towards acknowledging the mistakes of the past and moving towards a more equitable future.
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