Bloody Christmas (1951) facts for kids
Bloody Christmas is the name given to a series of serious attacks. These attacks happened on December 25, 1951. Members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) beat seven young men. Five of the men were Mexican American. Two were white. They suffered broken bones and other serious injuries.
The attacks were investigated only after strong efforts from the Mexican American community. Los Angeles Chief of Police William H. Parker led an internal inquiry. As a result, eight police officers were charged with the attacks. Also, 54 officers were moved to different jobs. Another 39 officers were suspended.
This event was later part of a story in the 1990 novel L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy. It was also made into a movie in 1997.
How the Attacks Were Kept Quiet
Senior leaders of the LAPD tried to keep news of the attacks quiet. This lasted for almost three months. Early news stories did not focus on the beatings. Instead, they focused on a fight that happened the night before. For example, the first headline in the Los Angeles Times said, "Officers Beaten in Bar Brawl; Seven Men Jailed."
However, the Mexican American community kept pushing for attention on police actions. More reports of police violence also came out. Because of this, the media started to criticize the LAPD. News stories began to speak out against police methods. They even suggested changing a city law.
In March 1952, six of the seven young men were charged. They were accused of fighting and causing trouble. The police said the fight started when they asked one man to leave a bar. But the young men said an officer started hitting one of them first. The judge allowed them to describe how they were beaten after being arrested. The jury found the young men guilty of some charges. But after the decision, the judge strongly criticized the police. He asked for a separate investigation into the attacks.
Police Investigate Themselves
Chief Parker reacted defensively to the criticism. The police department had a "war-on-crime" policy. This made them think of people as "us versus them." Parker argued that the public needed to support the police. He said this was to prevent chaos and lawlessness. He claimed that any criticism of the LAPD hurt their ability to do their job. He even suggested that criminals were making up stories about police actions. He said they wanted him fired so criminal groups in Los Angeles could restart their illegal activities.
However, the internal investigation into the beatings continued. More complaints about other incidents were reported by the media. This forced Chief Parker to act. Eventually, the LAPD put together a 204-page report. This report included interviews with over 400 witnesses. But many LAPD members tried to stop the investigation. They did this by giving false information or unclear answers. The report also had contradictions. It said that several police officers saw the beatings. But it also concluded that "none of the prisoners was physically abused in the manner alleged."
