Ruben Salazar Park

Ruben Salazar Park is located at 3684 Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles and has become an important place for Mexican Americans. This park is interesting because it was a place for Chicano activists and it remembers a Chicano journalist.

The 1960s and 1970s were a critical period in American History. In the 1960’s, Chicanos begun to fight for various rights including education. The 1970s brought about a similar form of activism. This time the activism was about the draft that occurred in the Vietnam War. At this time, many youth were concerned that too many Latinos were sent to Vietnam because Latinos accounted for a disproportionate amount of deaths in the war. The drafting of the war led many youth to form protests around the country. The largest of these protests occurred in the city of East Los Angeles. This protest was organized by the National Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War. It was estimated that more than 30,000 people were in attendance for this anti-war protest. Ruben Salazar, who was the first Latino journalist of a major newspaper, covered these protests. Salazar was one of the first people to bring Chicano issues to the American public. He was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and KMEX, a Spanish language television station. The protest started at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles and this peaceful demonstration was supposed to end at a place called Laguna Park (Ruben Salazar Park) in Boyle heights. However these demonstrations did not end like they were planned. As the protest was nearing Laguna Park, the police tried to stop this demonstration. They sent tear gas into the crowd of demonstrators. Salazar decided to stay in a small café on Whittier Boulevard called the Silver Dollar Café. A police deputy threw a 10-inch projectile of tear gas. This struck Ruben Salazar and killed him instantly. The Chicano community mourned the loss of this journalist who brought Chicano Issues to the main public. He was considered a hero and Laguna Park was renamed Ruben Salazar Park in his honor.

The year 2010 marked the 40th anniversary of the anti-war protest that occurred in East Los Angeles. Young and old Chicanos activists gathered around Ruben Salazar Park to remember this event and the life of Ruben Salazar. Ruben Salazar Park serves as a remainder to the Latino community of a man who advocated for Latino rights and people who protested against issues that affected the Latino community. It also serves as a remainder to today’s youth that they can also get involved and think about the issues that affect us now. Ruben Salazar Park remains an important part of the Latino community.

Students Protesting during Chicano Moratorium. Photo Courtesy: UCLA Library Digital Photo Archive


Sources:
Aranda, Paul. “Eastside Honors Anniversary of 1970 Chicano Moratorium”. L.A. Beez Ethnic News. 3 September 2010. Web. 16 April 2012.
Holguin, Robert. “ Journalist Ruben Salazar’s Death Re-examined”. ABC News. 27 August 2010. Web. 20 April 2012.
“Ruben Salazar”. California Chicano News Media Association. ND. Web. 22 April 2012.
“Edward R. Roybal”. Library of Congress. 15 July 2010. Web. 21 April 2012.

Submitted By: Raquel P, Stephanie L, and Albertina B.
Pictures By: Stephanie L.