The riots began in Los Angeles, amidst a period of rising tensions between American servicemen stationed in southern California and Los Angeles' Chicano community. Many of the tensions between the Chicano community and the sailors existed because the servicemen walked through a Chicano neighborhood on the way back to their barracks after nights of drinking. The discrimination against the Chicano minority community was compounded by robberies and fights during these drunken interactions. In July 1942, a group of Hispanic youth fought back against police who attempted to break up a street corner gambling game. In October 1942, over 600 Chicano youth were arrested, and dozens charged, in the killing of Jose Diaz in a supposed gang brawl at the Sleepy Lagoon reservoir. This led to a court trial whose convictions were later overturned. During the case, sensationalist press account inflamed hostility towards young Chicanos.

The following year, clashes between white servicemen and......

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Title: Zoot Suit Riots
Approximate Word Count: 625
Approximate Pages: 3 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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