Question

What are the zoot suit riots

Answer 1

The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of conflicts on June 3–8, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, United States, which pitted American servicemen stationed in Southern California against Mexican-American youths and other minorities who were residents of the city.

Answer 2

The Zoot Suit Riots occurred in Los Angeles in 1943. Young Mexican men who wore outfits called, "zoot suits," got into altercations with U.S, servicemen. The basis for the disagreement was that because of World War II, there was rationing of certain materials, one of which was wool- a main ingredient of the zoot suit. They were being manufactured and sold illegally and the Mexican Americans, known as "pachucos," were seen as anti-American because they ignored the rationing order. On June 3, 1943 after a group of zoot suiters were accused of attacking a group of U.S. servicemen. Cab loads of U.S. servicemen went into the Mexican American community to find the alleged offenders. What followed for the next few days were fighting in the streets, and numerous zoot suiters being beaten and arrested. They were portrayed as gang members while the U.S. servicemen as heroes of freedom.