FEB 24/ 2026 : Chicano

Historical Context: The El Paso-Juarez Bath Riots occurred in 1917, a detail often overlooked in historical accounts.
Personal Connection: The author was first exposed to the U.S. government's humiliating policy towards Mexicans while conversing with a family elder, great-aunt Adela Dorado, who shared her experiences during the Mexican Revolution.
Discriminatory Practices: Mexican citizens, particularly working-class individuals like Aunt Adela, were forced to bathe and be subjected to pesticide sprays at the Santa Fe Bridge when crossing into the United States. These humiliations included the use of large steam dryers for their clothing, resulting in damage to personal items.

Research Findings: While researching at the National Archives, photographs from 1917 corroborated Aunt Adela's stories, depicting steam dryers used at the Santa Fe Bridge for disinfecting clothes.
Connection to Nazi Practices: Documentation revealed parallels between the U.S. Customs disinfection practices in El Paso and the desinfektionskammern in Nazi Germany, where pesticide Zyklon B was used for delousing, ominously labeled as "gas chambers."
Evolution of Practices: The U.S. method of using Zyklon B on Mexicans set a precedent that later influenced its horrific application during World War II in extermination camps, marking a significant historical linkage.

Catalyst for Riots: The Bath Riots began on January 28, 1917, instigated by 17-year-old Carmen Torres, who resisted customs officials’ demands for disinfection.
Immediate Actions: Carmellita persuaded over 200 other women to join her protest, blocking access to El Paso, escalating the number to thousands.
Violent Suppression: Carrancista General Francisco Murguia’s troops, known for their intimidation tactics, showed up to quell the riot.
Resistance Escalation: Protesters engaged in a physical confrontation with customs officials and American soldiers, whom they managed to deter with aggressive tactics and defiance.

Press Coverage: Newspapers likened the protesters’ actions to a swarm (like bees) showcasing their tenacity against oppressive governmental policies.
Backlash and Violence: Support for the women came from sympathizers of figures like Pancho Villa, who was still active at that time. However, those voicing support, like Jose Marta Sanchez, faced fatal consequences from authorities.

Background to Jail Incident: Earlier incidents involving forced gasoline baths on imprisoned Mexicans led to a tragic incident in March 1916 where an explosion killed twenty-seven prisoners due in part to flammable disinfection substances used on them.
Rumors and Gossip: Fear and misinformation circulated about the treatment and deaths of Mexicans reaching a point where local leaders dismissed the seriousness. There were no consequences for responsible parties following the fire deaths, highlighting systemic indifference to the lives of Mexican individuals.

Quarantine Policies: The U.S. Public Health Service's regulations regarding quarantines for crossing the border were extreme; they sought to keep diseases like typhus in check by humiliating and degrading Mexican citizens.
Health Inspections: The disinfection process included humiliating inspections and forced delousing, framed under medical necessities while serving broader socio-political purposes linked to racism and xenophobia.

Progressive Era Politics: Mayor Tom Lea, Sr.'s administration was characterized by racial hygiene discourses. His policies reflected extreme anti-Mexican sentiment that culminated in increased border surveillance and a push for stricter immigration laws.
Eugenics Influence: Influential figures in the eugenics movement advocated for racial purity through extreme measures, revealing the nexus between historical immigration policies and racist ideologies, furthering the division of Anglo and Mexican interests.
Cultural Denigration: The systemic perceptions of Mexicans as diseased or unclean coalesced with broader U.S. fears regarding immigration during World War I, marking the border not just as a regulatory zone but as a site for racialized control.

Long Term Effects: The Bath Riots exemplified a turning point where the relationship between El Paso and Juarez devolved into more extreme separations under the auspice of health and safety, ultimately reshaping both cities' demographics and cross-border relationships.
Merit of Historical Reflection: These events highlight the often-neglected narratives that exist within larger historical discourses and allow for the interrogation of how systemic racism has evolved in U.S. policies over time.

Final Reflection on Bath Riots: Ultimately, the Bath Riots serve as a crucial historical reminder of the intersecting forces of race, politics, and health, and how they have shaped the lived experiences of marginalized communities across borders. The events present a foundational understanding necessary for any discourse surrounding Mexican-American relations, immigration policy, and the historical legacy of U.S. border control practices.

IN CLASS NOTES