Power from the Past

Memory Work Research Initiative

Bruised But Not Beaten | Herridos pero no vencidos

Bruised But Not Beaten | Herridos pero no vencidos
Justice for Janitors pamphlet (Spanish) announcing a return march to Century City in 1990. SEIU-USWW (Justice for Janitors) Collection, IRLE Archives.

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On June 15, 1990, the LAPD armed with nightsticks attacked group of 500 peaceful demonstrators outside Century City that included women and children. LAPD officers in full riot gear chased janitors into a covered parking structure and beat them with clubs and when union officials tried to approach the officer in charge, they were pushed back on to the ground. More than 100 people sustained injuries that day, some 40 people were sent to emergency, and one pregnant woman lost her baby.

Justice for Janitors pamphlet announcing a return march to Century City.

Not intimidated by police brutality, the janitors returned to Century City two weeks after the incident, for a second, even-bigger rally and march. As described in this flyer from the march, they vowed to show the LAPD and the building owners in Century City that, “thug tactics and intimidation will not replace fair working conditions nor will they deter us in our struggle for justice.”

From the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Service Workers West (USWW) records, circa 1935-2008 (LSC.1940), UCLA Library Special Collections.