CA ACR84 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 84, The 80th Anniversary of the Zoot Suit Riots, states in part: "WHEREAS, Shortly after midnight on June 8, military officials declared the City of Los Angeles off-limits to ALL MILITARY PERSONNEL..." However, Los Angeles was never declared off-limits to "all military personnel." Certain "out of bounds" restrictions applied to NAVY PERSONNEL (with exceptions) but never to ARMY, MARIES, COAST GUARD or AIR FORCE personnel. This Joint Resolution ACR 84 is inaccurate and misleading for the following reasons: 1) The Navy first took action on June 4 in declaring that certain premises (mostly along 5th Street and Main Street, including cafes, bars, dance halls, clubs, taverns, hotels, etc.) were "out of bounds" for NAVAL personnel. 2) On June 8, 1943, the City of Los Angelees was declared "out of bounds" for all enlisted NAVY personnel stationed OUTSIDE the city, with exceptions. This order also applied to Navy personnel stationed within the city, with exceptions. These exceptions included officers from outside the city, men from outside the city in travel status, married men within the city and those within the city living off station. NO such out of bounds declarations were issued for Army, Marines, Coast Guard or Air Force personnel. The out of bounds restriction was canceled one week later on June 15, 1943. 3) On June 8, 1943, General Murray at Pasadena (U.S. ARMY) was informed of the NAVY Commandant's action to restrict libery in Los Angeles for NAVY personnel (except for married men and those living off base within the City). ARMY General Murray stated he would NOT restrict libery of ARMY personnel but would reinforce the Provost Guard. Reference to Original Source Documents of 1943: 1) Eleventh Naval District Memorandum No. 9-43 from T.M. Leovy, District Patrol Officer to all Naval Personnel 2) Action Order from Commander of the Eleventh Naval District to all stations June 8, 1943 3) Memorandum by C.C. Jersey for the Chief of Staff, June 8, 1943