American Experience Zoot Suit Riots (Season 14, Episode 8)
TV-PG
TV Episode | 53 min | Documentary, Biography, History

American Experience

Zoot Suit Riots (Season 14, Episode 8)

TV-PG

TV Episode | 53 min | Documentary, Biography, History

On August 1, 1942, a 22-year-old Mexican American man was stabbed to death at a party. To white Los Angelenos, the murder was just more proof that Mexican American crime was spiraling out of control. The police fanned out across LA, ...See moreOn August 1, 1942, a 22-year-old Mexican American man was stabbed to death at a party. To white Los Angelenos, the murder was just more proof that Mexican American crime was spiraling out of control. The police fanned out across LA, netting 600 young Mexican American suspects. Almost all those taken into custody were wearing the distinctive uniform of their generation: zoot-suits. The tragic murder and the injustice of the trial that followed, coupled with sensational news coverage of both, fanned the flames of the racial hostility that was already running rife in the city. Within months of the verdict, Los Angeles was in the grip of some of the worst violence in its history. Written by PBS See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
29 cast members

Name	Known for
Hector Elizondo Narrator (voice) Narrator (voice) See fewer	Pretty Woman (1990)
George J. Sanchez Self - Historian (as George J. Sánchez) Self - Historian (as George J. Sánchez) See fewer	East LA Interchange (2015)
Lupe Leyvas Self - Sister of Henry Leyvas Self - Sister of Henry Leyvas See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Edward J. Escobar Self - Historian Self - Historian See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Eduardo Pagán Self - Historian (as Eduardo O. Pagán) Self - Historian (as Eduardo O. Pagán) See fewer	Blood Feuds (2016)
Alvaro Rodriguez Self Self See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Arthur Arenas Self - Witness Self - Witness See fewer	American Experience (1987)
George Bray Self - Sailor Self - Sailor See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Reno Sanetti Self - Sailor Self - Sailor See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Henry Joseph Ynostroza Self - Sleepy Lagoon Defendant Self - Sleepy Lagoon Defendant See fewer	American Experience (1987)
William Shibley Self - Defense Attorney's Son Self - Defense Attorney's Son See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Alice Greenfield McGrath Self - Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee Self - Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Rudy Leyvas Self - Brother of Henry Leyvas Self - Brother of Henry Leyvas See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Elizabeth Escobedo Self - University of Washington Self - University of Washington See fewer	Wartime Crime (2017)
Theodore Encinas Self - Son of Lorena Encinas Self - Son of Lorena Encinas See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Marietta Lee Self - Witness Self - Witness See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Gloria Rios Berlin Self - Witness Self - Witness See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Carlos Espinoza Self Self See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Judy Torres-Preston Self - Daughter of Lorena Encinas Self - Daughter of Lorena Encinas See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Salome Aguilar Jr. Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Patrick Cardenas Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Isaac Robledo Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Andrew Aguilar Pacheco / Soldier Pacheco / Soldier See fewer	Days of Our Lives (1965)
Joey Mata Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Steve Acevedo Extra (as Stephen Acevedo) Extra (as Stephen Acevedo) See fewer	Queen of the South (2016)
Andrea M. Bueno Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Raymond A. Ortiz III Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Dannette S. Garcia Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Cynthia De La Garza Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1987)