On June 3, 1943, the Zoot Suit Riots broke out in Los Angeles, California. These riots were characterized by a series of attacks by U.S. servicemen, stationed in the city during World War II, against Mexican American youth and other minorities who were recognizable by their distinctive zoot suits. The violence was fueled by racial tensions and perceptions of delinquency associated with the zoot suit culture. Lasting for several days, these riots highlighted the racial and social inequalities in the U.S. at the time, and the term “Zoot Suit Riots” has since become synonymous with racial prejudice and the struggle for minority rights in America.
