From the Archives: 150 years have passed since Los Angeles’ Chinese Massacre of 1871

One hundred and fifty years ago, an angry mob in Los Angeles attacked and murdered 18 Chinese immigrants and looted their businesses on on October 24, 1871.

The tragedy began with an alleged gang shootout on a street named “Calle de los Negros,” in L.A.’s first Chinatown. A police officer who had responded was injured, and a rancher named Robert Thompson was fatally shot.

Word spread that a lawman had been murdered in Chinatown. A mob of about 500 Angelinos sought revenge. Fifteen Chinese residents — including a 14-year-old boy and a respected doctor — were rounded up and hung. Others were shot to death.

Businesses in the neighborhood were ransacked and robbed. Of those killed, only one is thought to have participated in the original gunfight.

Although some members of the mob later were tried and convicted of manslaughter, their convictions were overturned on on technicalities. At the time, California law prohibited non-White witnesses from testifying against a White person in court.

The tragedy was front page news in San Diego, which had its own growing population of Chinese settlers in the 1870s.

(Warning: Outdated, racist terminology and graphic violence is contained in the following report.)

From The San Diego Union, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1871:

THE MASSACRE AT LOS ANGELES.

Full Particulars — Eighteen Chinese in all Killed— Pillage the Object of the Murderers.

The Los Angeles News of Thursday morning gives us the true story of the awful massacre of Chinese in that city on Tuesday evening last. It appears from the testimony before the Coroner’s inquest, and from a report in the News, that pillage was the object of the mob.

Officer Harris testified that ‘While standing near the store of Messrs. Caswell & Ellis, he observed a Chinaman crossing Los Angeles street, when hearing the cry of “Here’s one! here’s one!” he arrested him and proceeded with him to jail. When at the foot of Temple street he was surrounded, his arms pinned behind, and the prisoner taken from him, while voices were heard from the crowd calling “hang him.” Returning to Los Angeles street, he heard the fire alarm given. Requested the crowd not to set the block on fire. Went to Negro Alley and while there a Chinaman came out of one of the blockaded houses, and he was immediately shot down by persons unknown. Another coming out, he met the same fate. Saw a body of men break into the houses and drag out one dead body and a number of live Chinamen. These he requested parties to take to jail. He observed them go down Los Angeles street. From one house to another they proceeded, entering, at last, on Chinese Doctor’s shop, where the Doctor and a woman were found alive and taken out, he thought to jail. The store was then entered, and a dead body was discovered, and one supposed to be still alive.

“The residents of these houses being know by the officers to be innocent parties, the crowd accompanying them were prevailed upon to desist firing. At this place the rabble commenced to plunder, carrying away everything they possibly could. Some, through his exertions and by the assistance of citizens, were caught and compelled to disgorge. Much property was nevertheless carried away. A wounded Chinaman lying under the bed recognized him, claimed protection. This man he found to be wounded in the head. He supposes that he was rescued, as he did not discover him among the dead. During the rest of the watch he kept guard over the property to prevent thieves from plundering. Could not swear who were the parties that fired shots. He identified all the dead, but stated there was only one who participated in the fracas, the remainder he believed to be innocent. This man he believes to be the brother of Sing Lee, a former proprietor of the store who left about three months ago for China. The other parties in the fight he believes to be Yu Tak, Ah Coy, Fung Wann and Yo Hing, who have escaped.”