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