In January of 1930, there was a rise in anti-Filipino sentiment in the Pajaro Valley. On January 19, 1930, the first attack against the Filipino community occurred when a large group of men marched to the Palm Beach Dance Hall with the intent to confront the hall’s mostly Filipino clientele. Attacks against the Filipino community continued for days until January 23, 1930 when white rioters, armed with shotguns, fired several shots into a bunk house at John Murphy Ranch, killing Filipino farm laborer Fermin Tobera. The murder of Tobera marked the end of rioting in Watsonville and the return of ostensible peace to the town.

The newspaper, Evening Pajaronian was the main source of information that locals read to learn about the riots as they were happening. This exhibit presents an analysis of the discourse of the riots that surface in Evening Pajaronian reporting, paying special attention to the rhetoric around police involvement.

View the digital exhibit here.