In August 1942, the murder of a young Mexican American ignited a firestorm in Los Angeles. The tensions that had been building up for years between Mexican and white Los Angelenos boiled over. The press claimed that Mexican youth -- known as "zoot-suiters" for the clothes they wore -- were terrorizing the city with a wave of crime. Police fanned out across the city arresting 600 Mexican Americans. Seventeen "zoot-suiters" headed to a trial in which prosecutors had little evidence to present. Nonetheless, guilty verdicts were handed down to all. The tensions the trial inflamed sparked riots between servicemen and the Mexican American community that led to "zoot-suiters" being beaten and stripped of their clothes. Despite vigorous denials from city officials, a citizens' committee concluded the riots had been fueled by racial prejudice and encouraged by sensational news reporting and a discriminatory police department.
Episode Duration: 53 minutes and 18 seconds
Episode Number: 1406
Wed, May 29 | 4:00 P.M. | Zoot Suit Riots NH World (11.3) |
As television's longest-running, most-watched history series, American Experience brings to life the incredible characters and epic stories that helped form this nation.
Tue, May 21 | 9:00 P.M. | The Riot Report NHPBS (11.1) |
Wed, May 22 | 1:00 A.M. | The Riot Report NHPBS (11.1) |
Thu, May 23 | 3:00 A.M. | The Riot Report NHPBS (11.1) |
Fri, May 24 | 8:00 P.M. | The Riot Report NH World (11.3) |
Sat, May 25 | 1:00 A.M. | The Riot Report NH World (11.3) |
Sat, May 25 | 9:00 A.M. | The Riot Report NH World (11.3) |
Mon, May 27 | 4:00 A.M. | The Sun Queen NH World (11.3) |
Tue, May 28 | 2:00 P.M. | Riveted: The History of Jeans NH World (11.3) |
Tue, May 28 | 3:00 P.M. | The Lie Detector NH World (11.3) |
Tue, May 28 | 4:00 P.M. | Ruthless: Monopoly's Secret History NH World (11.3) |
Wed, May 29 | 1:00 P.M. | The Riot Report NH Explore (11.2) |
Wed, May 29 | 2:00 P.M. | Fatal Flood NH World (11.3) |
Wed, May 29 | 3:00 P.M. | Flood in the Desert NH World (11.3) |
Wed, May 29 | 4:00 P.M. | Zoot Suit Riots NH World (11.3) |
Fri, May 31 | 9:00 P.M. | The Riot Report NH Explore (11.2) |
Sat, Jun 1 | 1:00 A.M. | The Riot Report NH Explore (11.2) |
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