Okla-homey
8/2/2007, 05:49 AM
No, not Quentin Tarantino's first flick...
http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/22524/2001035796663267742_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001035796663267742)
August 2, 1942: Man murdered near L.A. reservoir
Sixty-five years ago on this day in 1942, Jose Diaz is murdered, and his body is found at the Sleepy Lagoon reservoir, near Los Angeles, California. Two days later, police began to round up and arrest 22 Mexican men in the Los Angeles area for conspiring to kill Diaz.
http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/22253/2003670605686860495_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003670605686860495)
Jose Diaz 1919-1942
Despite a lack of evidence, the 22 men were eventually prosecuted for beating Diaz to death. The trial and subsequent convictions characterized a period of racial prejudice and injustice in Los Angeles during World War II.
http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/22524/2001045860860847064_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001045860860847064)
Media coverage surrounding the trial was particularly troubling. The Los Angeles Examiner referred to young Mexican-Americans as hoodlums. A captain from the Los Angeles Sheriff's office told a grand jury that Mexicans had a "biological tendency" to be violent since they were descendants of Indian tribes who practiced human sacrifice. He went on to say that they had a "total disregard for human life" and an inbred "desire to use a knife or some lethal weapon. In other words, [a Mexican's] desire is to kill, or at least, let blood. "
http://aycu24.webshots.com/image/22903/2003668002646483520_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003668002646483520)
"Henry Leyvas, front center, alleged member of a youthful gang, is shown as he was led from an inquest yesterday where the death of Jose Diaz was investigated. Other suspected members of the gang shown in background,." August, 1942.
Los Angeles Daily News Negatives Collection
Despite the concerted efforts of a defense committee that had been put together by activists and Hollywood actors, 17 of the 22 accused were convicted and 12 were sentenced to life in San Quentin prison.
Over the course of the following year, hostility between whites and Hispanics became so inflamed by the press, police, and city officials that the so-called "zoot suit riots" broke out the next summer.
http://aycu36.webshots.com/image/24515/2001050612271169687_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001050612271169687)
Pachuco reenactor wearing a zoot suit
Allegedly, about a dozen sailors had been attacked by a group of Mexicans wearing zoot suits (long coats with exaggerated shoulder pads and loose pleated pants.) On June 3, 1943, 50 Navy sailors retaliated for the assault by combing the streets in cabs, stopping to beat anyone wearing the popular Hispanic outfit.
http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/22524/2001047315696178633_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001047315696178633)
G.I.'s hunting Mexicans
By the next day, hundreds more G.I.'s had joined in the hunt. These attacks continued for several days. On June 7, The Los Angeles Examinerreported that Mexicans would be out to retaliate, causing a civilian panic. The following day, the Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance that made wearing a zoot suit a misdemeanor. That's right, it became illegal to wear a particular style of outfit in public.
http://aycu32.webshots.com/image/22511/2001053754881406197_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001053754881406197)
Finally, on June 8, U.S. military commanders restricted military personnel to their bases in Los Angeles, and the turmoil ended. A court of appeals eventually overturned the convictions of all 12 of the defendants in the Sleepy Lagoon case, and they were released after two years in prison.
http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/24412/2001048475844661118_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001048475844661118)
http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/22524/2001035796663267742_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001035796663267742)
August 2, 1942: Man murdered near L.A. reservoir
Sixty-five years ago on this day in 1942, Jose Diaz is murdered, and his body is found at the Sleepy Lagoon reservoir, near Los Angeles, California. Two days later, police began to round up and arrest 22 Mexican men in the Los Angeles area for conspiring to kill Diaz.
http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/22253/2003670605686860495_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003670605686860495)
Jose Diaz 1919-1942
Despite a lack of evidence, the 22 men were eventually prosecuted for beating Diaz to death. The trial and subsequent convictions characterized a period of racial prejudice and injustice in Los Angeles during World War II.
http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/22524/2001045860860847064_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001045860860847064)
Media coverage surrounding the trial was particularly troubling. The Los Angeles Examiner referred to young Mexican-Americans as hoodlums. A captain from the Los Angeles Sheriff's office told a grand jury that Mexicans had a "biological tendency" to be violent since they were descendants of Indian tribes who practiced human sacrifice. He went on to say that they had a "total disregard for human life" and an inbred "desire to use a knife or some lethal weapon. In other words, [a Mexican's] desire is to kill, or at least, let blood. "
http://aycu24.webshots.com/image/22903/2003668002646483520_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003668002646483520)
"Henry Leyvas, front center, alleged member of a youthful gang, is shown as he was led from an inquest yesterday where the death of Jose Diaz was investigated. Other suspected members of the gang shown in background,." August, 1942.
Los Angeles Daily News Negatives Collection
Despite the concerted efforts of a defense committee that had been put together by activists and Hollywood actors, 17 of the 22 accused were convicted and 12 were sentenced to life in San Quentin prison.
Over the course of the following year, hostility between whites and Hispanics became so inflamed by the press, police, and city officials that the so-called "zoot suit riots" broke out the next summer.
http://aycu36.webshots.com/image/24515/2001050612271169687_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001050612271169687)
Pachuco reenactor wearing a zoot suit
Allegedly, about a dozen sailors had been attacked by a group of Mexicans wearing zoot suits (long coats with exaggerated shoulder pads and loose pleated pants.) On June 3, 1943, 50 Navy sailors retaliated for the assault by combing the streets in cabs, stopping to beat anyone wearing the popular Hispanic outfit.
http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/22524/2001047315696178633_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001047315696178633)
G.I.'s hunting Mexicans
By the next day, hundreds more G.I.'s had joined in the hunt. These attacks continued for several days. On June 7, The Los Angeles Examinerreported that Mexicans would be out to retaliate, causing a civilian panic. The following day, the Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance that made wearing a zoot suit a misdemeanor. That's right, it became illegal to wear a particular style of outfit in public.
http://aycu32.webshots.com/image/22511/2001053754881406197_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001053754881406197)
Finally, on June 8, U.S. military commanders restricted military personnel to their bases in Los Angeles, and the turmoil ended. A court of appeals eventually overturned the convictions of all 12 of the defendants in the Sleepy Lagoon case, and they were released after two years in prison.
http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/24412/2001048475844661118_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001048475844661118)