Zoot Suit Riots -
american experience

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.

Duration: 56 minutes and 46 seconds

Episode Number: 1406

No future air times were found for this episode.

About American Experience:

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.

Watch American Experience - Clips, Episodes & Previews

Interview with Author Kirstin Downey

Dolley Madison Preview

A Class Apart Preview

Anna Nutter: Student Freedom Rider

Ryan Price: Student Freedom Rider

Michael Tubbs: Student Freedom Rider

Future Broadcast times for "American Experience": (show all)

Wed, May 14	1:00 P.M.	Plague at the Golden Gate NH Explore (11.2)
Fri, May 16	7:00 P.M.	Plague at the Golden Gate NH World (11.3)
Sat, May 17	12:00 A.M.	Plague at the Golden Gate NH World (11.3)
Sat, May 17	8:00 A.M.	Plague at the Golden Gate NH World (11.3)
Sat, May 17	2:00 P.M.	Plague at the Golden Gate NH World (11.3)
Sat, May 17	9:00 P.M.	Plague at the Golden Gate NH Explore (11.2)
Sun, May 18	1:00 A.M.	Plague at the Golden Gate NH Explore (11.2)
Mon, May 19	9:00 P.M.	Mr. Polaroid NHPBS (11.1)
Tue, May 20	1:00 A.M.	Mr. Polaroid NHPBS (11.1)
Wed, May 21	4:00 A.M.	Mr. Polaroid NHPBS (11.1)
Wed, May 21	1:00 P.M.	Mr. Polaroid NH Explore (11.2)
Sat, May 24	8:00 P.M.	Mr. Polaroid NH Explore (11.2)
Sun, May 25	12:00 A.M.	Mr. Polaroid NH Explore (11.2)
Tue, Jun 10	2:00 P.M.	Casa Susanna NH Explore (11.2)
Wed, Jun 11	3:00 A.M.	Casa Susanna NH Explore (11.2)
Thu, Jun 12	4:00 A.M.	Nazi Town, USA NHPBS (11.1)