Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee Records, 1942-1945

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Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee Records, 1942-1945

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf3b69n8z8

The Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee (formerly the Citizen's Committee for the Defense of Mexican American Youth) formed in 1942 in reaction to the indictment of 22 young men for murder. 12 defendants were convicted of first degree murder. The Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee raised funds to appeal the case and roused public opinion through education and publicity programs. In 1944 the original judgment was overturned. The collection contains correspondence, publications, publicity materials, radio scripts, office records, a transcript of the Sleepy Lagoon trial, and research materials including articles about Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Los Angeles. Portions of the collection are in Spanish.

11 boxes (5.5 linear ft.); 2 oversize boxes

eng,

University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.

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SNAC Resource ID: 6663955

Related Entities

There are 2 Entities related to this resource.

Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee (Los Angeles, Calif.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68d7w6j (corporateBody)

History The Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee (first known as the Citizens' Committee for the Defense of Mexican American Youth) was organized in October 1942 in response to the indictment of 22 young men for murder; all defendants but one were Mexican American; 12 defendants were convicted of first degree murder by Superior Court of Los Angeles County; Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee raised funds for the appeal of the case and roused public op...

McGrath, Alice Greenfield, 1917-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hj8vc9 (person)

Biography Alice Greenfield McGrath (April 5, 1917-November 27, 2009) was a political activist who first became known for her work to overturn the improper convictions of Mexican American youth in Sleepy Lagoon Trial in which the defendants were tried as a group under inhumane conditions. McGrath also supported humanitarian efforts and revolution in Nicaragua, pro bono work through the Mexican American Bar Association, and taught courses on se...