The white servicemen and residents felt Zoot Suiters were not contributing to the war effort and were wasting valuable resources by dressing so flamboyantly. Los Angeles police officers did nothing to halt the angry mobs from rioting, arresting the zoot suiters instead of the attackers. After the riots and because of international criticism, the United States Department of War banned all military personnel from going to Los Angeles on leave.
The white servicemen and residents in Los Angeles felt that Zoot Suiters were not contributing to the war effort and were wasting resources by dressing extravagantly. The police did nothing to stop the angry mobs who attacked the Zoot Suiters, instead arresting them. After the riots and international criticism, the US Department of War banned all military personnel from visiting Los Angeles on leave.