On
October 24, 1871 one of Los Angeles’ most violent racial
conflicts erupted when two rival tongs, Nin Yung Company and Hong
Chow Company disagreed over possession of a young woman, Ya Hit.
An Anglo police officer, Robert Thompson, intervened in the conflict
and was accidentally shot. Soon after, an Anglo saloonkeeper began
firing randomly at Chinese homes on “Nigger Alley,”
formally known as Calle de los Negros (now Los Angeles Street).
As news spread, Anglo and, to a lesser extent, Mexican vigilantes,
poured into the area, attacked Chinese residents, and burned and
looted Chinese property. One of the mob leaders was city councilman,
George Fall. Los Angeles tax-collector, Marshal Francis Baker
was also present and told participants to, “shoot any Chinese
who try to escape.” At the end of the night, 17 Chinese
were lynched, and two more died subsequently from complications.
Over 500 Angelenos participated in the attack. Eventually, 37
rioters were indicted, but fewer than 10 were convicted. The California
Supreme Court overturned their convictions a year later, however,
on a legal technicality. |
