Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Honors 55th Anniversary of Chicano Moratorium and Strengthens Protections for Journalists

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a motion introduced by Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, one of the largest Latino-led protests in U.S. history, and to strengthen protections for journalists covering public demonstrations.

The motion honors the life and legacy of journalist Rubén Salazar, who was killed during the 1970 protest, and recognizes the ongoing contributions of local and independent media outlets serving Latino and immigrant communities across Los Angeles County. It also directs the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to report on how it will ensure the safety and support of journalists working in the field.

“The Chicano Moratorium was a powerful demonstration of community strength, courage and resistance. Fifty-five years later, its lessons are as urgent as ever,” said Chair Pro Tem Solis. “Today’s motion reaffirms my commitment to truth, justice and transparency. We honor the memory of Rubén Salazar and uplift the work of today’s journalists who continue to shine a light on injustice. We must protect them, support them, and ensure their voices are never silenced.”

On August 29, 1970, more than 20,000 people marched peacefully through unincorporated East Los Angeles to protest the Vietnam War. Led by activists who proudly identified as Chicanos, the protest challenged the disproportionate drafting of young Latino men and also demanded justice in education, employment and public investment.

The peaceful demonstration ended in tragedy when the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department declared the protest unlawful, deployed tear gas from helicopters, and moved in on the crowd. Three people were killed, including Salazar, a Los Angeles Times journalist and one of the most prominent Latino voices in the media at the time. A tear gas projectile fired by a sheriff’s deputy struck and killed him as he sought refuge inside the Silver Dollar Bar.

The motion passed today recognizes the vital role of journalism and highlights the unique value of culturally relevant, community-based reporting. Even before the recent rise in immigration raids and especially now, outlets such as LA Taco, CALÓ News, LA Public Press and LAist have provided timely, accurate, and culturally nuanced information to Los Angeles County communities often overlooked by mainstream media.

The motion also draws a direct line between past and present, noting that many of the inequities the Chicano Moratorium protested still exist today. Under the Trump administration, housing and health care programs have been gutted, while immigration enforcement has seen a ballooning budget, and a rise in racial profiling and targeting on Latino communities in Los Angeles County and throughout the U.S.

“These actions are a stark reminder that the systemic injustices the Chicano Moratorium fought against more than fifty years ago persist today. The same patterns of discrimination against Latino and immigrant communities continue to inflict deep wounds on our families and threaten the very fabric of our society. In uplifting this dark time in the County’s history, we confront the difficult times we are in with resilience and empowerment,” added Chair Pro Tem Solis. “The fight for equity and justice continues.”

In addition to declaring August 29, 2025, as the 55th anniversary of the National Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War, the motion calls for: