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Throngs march in East LA on the 50th anniversary of Chicano Moratorium
People march down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Angelica Ramos of CSO Youth speaks to hundreds of people as they gather at Salazar Park during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
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A man chants from the roof of his car as people drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People take a break in the shade during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Cat and her son Atticus Andrade listen to speakers with other people during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
Andrade has been a political activist since she was a child marching for farm workers rights and she brought her son to a protest for the first time.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
A member of the Brown Berets blocks traffic as people drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Benny and Laura Legaspi gather with other people during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Bobby Elias, one of the originals of the Chicano Moratorium gathers with others during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
One of the original founders of Chicano Moratorium, Gloria Arellanes speaks as people gather during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
A woman dressed in an Atuendo native Aztec dress watches as people gather during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
David Alvarado, right, VFW Post Commander in 2005-06 and Teamsters gather during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Families watch from the sidewalk as people drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People drive down Whittier Avenue in a seven mile parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Rosario Munoz, Chairman of the Chicano Moratorium in 1970 speaks as people gather during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People liston to speakers as they gather during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People gather during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
People gather during a march marking the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Saturday, August 29, 2020 in Whittier. The march symbolizes the National Day of Resistance against Racism, Sexism and Fascism.
(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Hundreds marched by foot and rolled along in cars along Whittier Boulevard on Saturday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium March, a protest against the disproportionate affect of the Vietnam War on the Mexican-American community.
On Aug. 29 1970, more than 25,000 people showed up in East Los Angeles. It would become the biggest gathering of Mexican American demonstrators in U.S. history to that point. While things started off peacefully, the day turned violent when sheriff’s deputies showed up at Laguna Park. Chaos would follow as hundreds were arrested, buildings caught fire and vehicles were damaged.
Most notably, three people died that day, including Los Angeles Times columnist Ruben Salazar, one of the most prominent Latino journalists of his day. The 42-year-old was killed after being struck by a tear-gas canister fired by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy inside of the Silver Dollar Bar & Cafe.
The day became a flashpoint moment in the Chicano Civil Rights Movement — and some would continue social justice work in its aftermath. But others abandoned such protests amid the rally’s chaotic aftermath.
Organizers for this year’s march say that 50 years later many of the issues back then are still relevant now more than ever.
Starting at Atlantic Park, a crowd of protesters, Aztec dancers and Brown Berets from across the country marched to Laguna Park, now renamed Salazar Park. Right behind them were hundreds of cars with Mexican flags, signs that read “Chicano Power” and people peering out windows.
Some attendees wore pins that signified that they were there at the 1970 march.
Chants of “Chicano Power” and “Brown Pride” were heard all afternoon. Some protesters held banners that read “Viva La Raza.”
Brown Berets led the march as they directed traffic and kept the procession moving.
David Martinez, driving his blue Chevy Impala low-rider along Whittier Boulevard, reflected on the significance of this day. He was a 6-year-old when his parents brought him to the original rally. Back then, he didn’t understand the importance of the event, he said.
“I was a kid and I grew up not understanding it,” Martinez said. “We’re hoping as veteran Chicanos that we can pass the torch and set the framework so that young people can pick it up and understand the economic superpower that they are.”
Manuel Cruz, whose parents marched in 1970, came out to to pay respects to them and to the people lost that day. The East LA native brought his grandson along, to teach him about the Chicano Movement and the progress that has been made over the last half-century.
“Positive emotions come to mind right now and also some tears,” said Martinez as he held a poster of Ruben Salazar. “I’m proud to be here and I’m more proud that my family will know about this day forever.”
As protesters passed by local businesses along Whittier Boulevard, shop owners came out and cheered as the march made its way down the more than 2.5-mile route.
One of those people was Laura Valdez, who stood outside her flower shop with her daughter cheering on. She says that her uncle was put in jail in the 1970s for not going to Vietnam and ended up enlisting, so the event felt personal to her.
“Fifty years after the original Chicano Moratorium were still facing the same struggles,” Valdez said. “This is the 50th anniversary but we’re still fighting the same fight, we’re not giving up and we’re not stopping any time soon.”
