Ruben Salazar (March 3, 1928 – August 29, 1970] was a Mexican-American journalist killed by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War on August 29, 1970 in East Los Angeles, California. During the 1970s, his killing was cited as a symbol of unjust treatment of Chicanos by law enforcement. Working as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Salazar was the first Mexican-American journalist from mainstream media to cover the Chicano community. Hunter Thompson covered the Salazar case in his article “Strange Rumblings in Aztlan”
National Chicano Moratorium gathered more than 30,000 activists, students, families and their children to the march down Whittier Blvd. in East Los Angeles, August 29, 1970. | Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library
Protesters march during the National Chicano Moratorium. | Image courtesy of the UCLA Library Digital Collections, Creative Commons License
National Chicano Moratorium marchers line the streets of East L.A. in 1970.(Los Angeles Times)
Two young Chicano men ride on the hood of a car and raise their fist during a National Chicano Moratorium Committee march in opposition to the war in Vietnam, Los Angeles, California, February 28, 1970. (Photo by David Fenton/Getty Images)
Rosalio Munoz speaks at a Moratorium rally in East Los Angeles. | Image courtesy of Rosalio Munoz
Police armed with clubs at Laguna Park (later renamed Salazar Park) during the National Chicano Moratorium. | Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library
A Sheriff’s Deputy fires a 10-inch tear gas protectile into the Silver Dollar Bar, hitting Ruben Salazar in the head, killing him instantly. On that day, August 29, 1970, three others were killed: civilians Gustav Montag, Lyn Ward, and Jose Diaz. | Image from La Raza Magazine, courtesy of Rosalio Munoz
Abandoned sheriff’s car, still burning a day after the National Chicano Moratorium. | Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library
Riots following the protest rally. | Image courtesy of the UCLA Library Digital Collections, Creative Commons License
Street scene on August 31, 1970. | Image courtesy of the UCLA Library Digital Collections, Creative Commons License
Street scene on August 31, 1970. | Image courtesy of the UCLA Library Digital Collections, Creative Commons License
Damage done by looter at Frederick’s, located at Soto & Whittier, during the Chicano Moratorium. | Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library
Chicano Moratorium protesters outside the Marine Corps recruiting station, November 19, 1969. | Image courtesy of the UCLA Library Digital Collections, Creative Commons License
