Los Siete de la Raza facts for kids

Los Siete de la Raza (The Seven of the Community) was the name given to seven young Latino men. They were from the Mission District in San Francisco, California. In 1969, they were involved in an incident with police where an officer died.

This event and the trial that followed became very important to the Latin-American community. It also gained attention from groups like the New Left, which wanted social and political changes. All seven young men were found not guilty.

What Happened?

On May 1, 1969, around 10:30 in the morning, seven young men were moving a stereo or TV. Their names were Gary Lescallett, Rodolfo Antonio (Tony) Martinez, Mario Martinez, Jose Rios, Nelson Rodriguez, Danilo Melendez, and George Lopez. They were at a house on Alvarado Street.

Two police officers, Joe Brodnik and Paul McGoran, approached them. A struggle began. During this struggle, Officer Brodnik was shot with Officer McGoran's gun and died.

After the shooting, many police arrived at the scene. They thought the young men might be hiding in the house's attic. A police helicopter flew above. Officers used tear gas inside the building. A fire truck ladder was also used to help search the roof.

The Arrests

Three days later, six of the young men were arrested. They were accused of the death of Officer Brodnik. They were also accused of trying to harm Officer McGoran. The seventh person, George Lopez, was never found by the police.

These young men were defended by activist lawyers Charles Garry and Richard Hodge. Their case was supported by many groups. The young Latinos included four people from El Salvador, one from Nicaragua, and one from Honduras. Some had been part of a youth group called the Mission Rebels. Later, some joined larger Latino groups like COBRA and the Brown Berets.

The Trial

The trial for Los Siete de la Raza started in late June 1970. Many young activists came to watch the court sessions. This included Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton. Two members of the Chicago Seven also attended.

Courtroom Arguments

The lawyers for the police said that one of the young men took Officer McGoran's gun. They claimed this person then shot Officer Brodnik. Officer McGoran said that he and Officer Brodnik approached the young men. He testified that he hit one of them. Then, he said, he was attacked by "more than one assailant." The last thing he remembered hearing was Officer Brodnik shouting, "Look out Paul, he's got your gun."

The defense lawyers had a different story. They said Officer McGoran pulled his own gun. They argued that he accidentally shot Officer Brodnik during the struggle. The defense brought witnesses who said Officer McGoran and Officer Brodnik had used too much force in past situations. Officer McGoran said he did not pull his gun.

The defense tried to show that Officer McGoran was unfair towards Latino people. His former wife even testified. She said her husband had sometimes placed illegal items on suspects. This was to make sure they were found guilty. In the end, all seven defendants were found not guilty.

Community Support

The "Los Siete" Defense Committee was a group that helped the seven young men. They worked from a building near 24th and South Van Ness streets. This committee received help from the Black Panther Party.

The La Raza Information Center also started operating in the summer of 1970. It was in an empty store next to the "Los Siete" office. This center offered many programs for the community. These included a free breakfast program and a community newspaper. Its main work was supporting the "Los Siete" Defense Committee.