Since last Thursday night bands of soldiers and sailors have been roving the streets of Los Angeles attacking Mexican boys attired in so-called “zoot suits.”
. . . In spite of assurances of army navy and local law enforcement officials rioting bands of servicemen armed with bludgeons are roaming the streets tonight with apparent tacit consent of law enforcement officers have extend activities to include negroes.
Zoot Suit Riot Telegram 1943
The Council for Latin American Youth sent this telegram to President Franklin Roosevelt urging his attention to the riots in Los Angeles.
National Archives, General Records of the Department of State
