Internment Camps

About 110,000 to 120,000 Japanese Americans or immigrants were sent to camps called War Relocation Camps.

They were house in a "tar paper-covered barracks of simple frame construction without plumbing or cooking facilities of any kind."

They were at times allowed to remain with their families.

They were shot if they tried to walk outside the fences of their area. Other camps would allow the freedom to walk where they’d like with restrictions.

They would renounce their citizenship to the U.S. to be repatriated to Japan however not all were. Those who weren’t would later be looked down on.

Los Angeles, California. Japanese Americans going to Manzanar

Zoot Suit Riots of 1940s

Zoot Suit Riots The Zoot Suit Riots riots that occurred

during World War II between Latino youths recognized by the Zoot Suits they wore and American servicemen who resent the youths because of their unpatriotic clothing.

The riots began after a clash between a group of sailors and Latino youths in downtown LA on May 31, 1943, resulting in a sailor being stabbed. This caused an uproar where 200 marines and sailors gathering and targeting every and any Latino youth “pachuco” wearing a zoot suits. It later turned to anyone that was wearing a zoot suit. After several days thousands of servicemen had joined targeting anyone in a zoot suit even if they weren’t Latinos.

Police accompanied the rioting servicemen, with orders not to arrest any of them.

People who were found by the servicemen were stripped away of their clothes and assault and later arrested.

The Sleepy Lagoon Murder

The Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 were the result of racism and long mistreatment of

Chicanos as shown in the case of the Sleepy Lagoon Murder of 1942. The so

called murder occurred on August 2, 1942 when the body of a young Latino

named Jose Diaz was found drunk and unconscious on the road near the

lagoon. There were theories of what could have caused the head trauma he

had such the result of getting hit by a car or the result of a fight between gang

rivalries. Despite the lack of evidence for the cause of death, this led to the

arrest of 300 to 600 Latinos who were under suspicion of having involvement of

the murder. Out those under suspicion a jury of only white people convicted

about twenty-two of murder and assault.

Freeway Construction

After World War II, people were convinced that if southern California was going to accommodate a larger population, it would need a new transportation system. There was an upgraded rail transit system built in 1940 between Los Angeles and Pasadena, The Arroyo Seco Parkway. Surrounding cities agreed that a web of freeways connecting the whole region would be more suitable for the residents. People saw the freeways as a liberating alternative to the trolley system and were willing to pay through higher taxes and bonds. Because people didn’t see quick benefits from the so called freeways, construction came to a halt. By 2004 only 61% of the freeway miles that were proposed in the 1954 plan were built.

Watts Riots of 1965

The Watts Riots was a race riot that occurred on August 1965. It lasted 6 days in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles between the police department and a mob of neighborhood members. This occurred after the arrest of arrested Marquette Frye by Lee Minikus, that led to the arrest of both Frye’s brother and mother that angered many people. The mob grew larger and angrier the more the police dept. tried to do anything. The riots died down after a curfew at 8 o’clock was set. After the riots died down on August 15 it left 34 people killed, 1,032 34 people injured, and 3,952 were arrested. It also left many businesses and private property damages or destroyed.

Burning buildings during the riots.

Street Gangs in Los Angeles

Economic declind after World War II lead to joblessness and poverty,racial segregation which lead toformation of black "street clubs." These

street clubs lead toorganizations such as Black PantherParty and Black Power Movement.Crips formed as an alliance during thistime. By 1978 there were 45 gangmembers operation in Los angeles. by theearly 1980's the gang was heavily involvedin drug trade. Bloods gang formed tocompete against the influence of theCrips.

Bloods made their way to New York City Jail system were they were being targeted by Latin Kings made out of Hispanics.

So Bloods spread out to New York City creating different little sets of gangs all part of Bloods.

Territory of the Crips and Bloods in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Riots of 1992 The Los Angeles Riots of 1992 occurred after four police officials weretried not guilty after being captured onvideotape of them beating Rodney King. This occurred

after a car chaseclaiming that it was thought that he hadbeen under the influence. However, a test for PCP, a drug

was negative.They were tried by a jury made up ofcomposed of ten whites, one Hispanic,and one Asian. The Riots began after the verdict thatangered many people and led towidespread looting, fires destroyingbuildings, and out of control mobs. TheNational Guard stepped in assigning acurfew, both the U.S. army and marinesJoined to restore order.

The fear of violence that had sprung fromthe riots had impacted the retrial of the officerswho had been found not guilty. On the retrial, two officers

were found guilty and the other two were acquitted.

Los Angeles May Day 2007

The Los Angeles May Day was a May day Pro-illegal immigration rally. It occurred at MacArthur Park. The main objective of the rally was to bring attention to the large population of illegal immigrants in los angeles. The rally became a mess when Anarchist began pelting LAPD with rocks bottles and other things they could find. An estimate of 600 police offices fired 146 foam rubber projectiles injuring 27 marches and and 9 members of the media.