The Dialectics of Repression: The Los Angeles Police Department and the Chicano Movement, 1968-1971.

The Dialectics of Repression: The Los Angeles Police Department and the Chicano Movement, 1968-1971

Edward J. Escobar

Introduction

  • Date and Event: August 29, 1970, marked the largest protest by people of Mexican descent in the U.S., known as the National Chicano Moratorium demonstration.

  • Organizer: Rosalío Muñoz, former UCLA student body president and antiwar activist.

  • Purpose: Protest against high casualties of Mexican Americans in the Vietnam War.

  • Participants: Estimated 20,000 to 30,000 marchers in East Los Angeles, enjoying a communal atmosphere with families and speeches at Laguna Park.

Police Response to the Demonstration

  • Law Enforcement Action: Following an alleged minor disturbance, deputies declared the assembly unlawful and attempted to disperse the crowd.

  • Violence: Police charged the crowd using tear gas and batons; the demonstration escalated into a riot.

  • Casualties: Over 100 arrests, 40 injuries, and 3 deaths, including journalist Rubén Salazar, killed by a tear gas projectile.

Context of the Chicano Movement

  • Background: The rise of militant Mexican-American activism challenging systemic discrimination, including issues like farmworkers' rights and police brutality.

  • Terminology: "Chicano" refers to those committed to militant action; "Mexican American" generally refers to non-militants.

Law Enforcement Tactics Against Chicano Activism

  • Harassment and Intimidation: The LAPD used violence to suppress protests, intimidate activists, and arrest participants.

  • Infiltration: Police infiltrated organizations like the Brown Berets to gather intelligence and disrupt movements from within.

  • Red-Baiting: LAPD labeled Chicano activists as subversives aligned with communism to undermine their credibility in the community.

Dialectical Relationship

  • Unintended Consequences: Repressive tactics partially undermined activism but also spurred community mobilization against police violence.

  • Increased Activism: As LAPD repression intensified, so did local displays of organized violence and a collective response to police aggression.

Political Context of the 1960s and 70s

  • Shared Space with Other Movements: The Chicano movement, influenced by the larger civil rights movements, including Black Power, Native American rights, and women's liberation.

  • Cultural Nationalism: Redefined ethnic pride as a basis for political mobilization, borrowing ideas and tactics from Black activists.

Mexican American Historical Context

  • Demographics: By the late 1960s, approximately 5.6 million Mexican Americans lived in the U.S., mostly in the Southwest. The Los Angeles population grew significantly from 1960 to 1970.

  • Discrimination: Historical context includes segregation and economic exploitation, underscored by the Zoot Suit riots of 1943, which reinforced negative stereotypes.

Generational Shifts in Activism

  • Previous Generation's Approach: Focused on gradual political integration, acculturation, and legal struggles through established organizations like LULAC.

  • The Chicano Movement's Challenge: The new generation rejected assimilation, demanding cultural pride and direct action in a response to systemic racism.

Core Goals of the Chicano Movement

  • Objectives: Focused on maintaining cultural identity, raising political awareness, engaging in collective self-empowerment, and eliminating discrimination.

  • Neighborhood Centered: Key organizations in East Los Angeles included EICC, UMAS, MEChA, Brown Berets, National Chicano Moratorium Committee, and La Raza Unida party.

LAPD Violence and Repression

  • Interaction Post-Walkouts: Increased police violence following student walkouts for better educational resources, leading to heightened tensions and violence.

  • Significant Cases: Publicized cases of police brutality, like the beating of Jesús Domínguez and Salvador Barba, ignited community demonstrations against LAPD actions.

  • The Role of Media: The Chicano press spread awareness and mobilized activists, while the LAPD attempted to discredit them, portraying movements as threats to public order.

Salazar's Killing and Its Significance

  • Rubén Salazar's Role: Salazar was a prominent journalist advocating for Chicano rights, and his killing galvanized the community.

  • Accusations of Murder: Many viewed his death as a politically motivated murder, leading to significant protests and calls for accountability.

Aftermath and Continuing Struggles

  • Escalation in Repression: Following the moratorium, LAPD increased surveillance and violence against Chicano organizations, significantly affecting community political engagement.

  • Shift in Political Consciousness: Police repression led to a more cohesive identity amongst Mexican Americans, emphasizing the need for collective action against discrimination.

Electoral Impact and Legal Mobilization

  • Progress in Political Representation: Increased political participation eventually led to greater numbers of Mexican Americans in public office by the late 1970s and 1980s.

  • Court Actions: Legal efforts, notably by MALDEF, aimed to curb police abuses and protect the rights of activists, leading to reforms in policy concerning investigations of political groups.

Conclusion

  • Legacy of the Chicano Movement: The struggle between the LAPD and Chicanos reshaped perceptions of Mexican Americans, leading to a new political consciousness that impacted future generations' fight for equality and against oppression.

References:

  1. La Raza

  2. Inside Eastside

  3. US Civil Rights Commission Report

  4. Morales, A Study of Mexican American Perceptions

  5. Ambrecht, B.C.S. & Pachón, H.P. Studies on ethnic political mobilization.

  6. Historical texts on the Chicano Movement by noted scholars such as Rodolfo Acuña, and others.