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Posed photograph of a large group of young, mostly white, people smiling at the camera. Many are smiling or hold up peace signs.
Young people congregate in downtown Los Angeles as the Zoot Suit Riots subside (1943).

The Zoot Suit Riots lead to calls for increased national attention on police brutality and misconduct.

1943

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Young people congregate in downtown Los Angeles as the Zoot Suit Riots subside (1943).

White servicemen across Southern California attack and strip children and young people of their "zoot suits." The servicemen believe that because the suits use large amounts of fabric, they are unpatriotic.

The attacks take place over a period of weeks, with Mexican, Black, and Filipinx community members fighting back. The Los Angeles Police Department are called in to stop the fighting, and blame the "pachuco" gangs. Over weeks, more and more attacks will occur, with many instances of white police officers joining the white servicemen.

The city council and mayor attempt to make the wearing of zoot suits illegal, but when this fails, they legitimize white community members attacking those wearing the suits.