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Morning Briefing: The Chicano Moratorium’s 50th Anniversary
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Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, a 1970 march in which 30,000 protesters in East L.A. voiced their opposition to the Vietnam War and agitated for the rights of Mexican Americans. The infamous march ended with Sheriff’s deputies becoming violent and tear-gassing the crowd. Three people died, including Los Angeles Times columnist Ruben Salazar, who was struck by a tear gas canister fired by a deputy into a bar where the journalist had sought refuge.
Cynthia Baragas, a Brown Beret, was 17 when she attended the protest.
“Sheriffs moved in on us, on our rally,” Baragas told KPCC’s Josie Huang. “All of us in the back, they started pushing us, you know, and they started clubbing after a while, and throwing tear gas, everybody ran … I couldn’t find my husband. He got beat up. It was really bad.”
In honor of the event’s anniversary, a march and car caravan traced the original route down Whittier Blvd. Days before, our own Erick Galindo and Chava Sanchez visited the area as well, searching for answers – and meaning.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
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Coming Up Today, August 31
A new law takes effect Tuesday, adding educators, employers and co-workers to the list of people who can file a Gun Violence Restraining Order. Under California’s current red flag gun law, only law enforcement and immediate family members can do so. Emily Elena Dugdale has the story.
Watch a horror film on a Hollywood rooftop or a doc about four transgender activists, take a forest bath under the light of the full moon, attend Cineconline, and more. Christine N. Ziemba has this week’s best online and IRL events.
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The Past 24 Hours In LA
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Shots Fired?: LAPD swarmed an apartment building in Woodland Hills after gunshots were reported near a pro-Trump rally on Ventura Blvd. late Sunday morning.
The Chicano Movement: Events throughout the city on Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, in which 30,000 protesters marched through East Los Angeles against the Vietnam War and civil rights violations of Mexican Americans.
Photo Of The Day
The NBA holds a moment of silence to remember former Portland Trail Blazer Clifford Robinson, former University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson, and actor Chadwick Boseman.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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