On August 29, 1970, what began as a peaceful Vietnam
antiwar demonstration resulted in what is known today as the "East Side"
riots where Ruben Salazar, voice of the Latin community, was killed by
Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies. Salazar, an infant Mexican immigrant,
rose to become a prominent Los Angeles Times and KMEX TV correspondent.
Because only a half-hearted investigation of his death was made, with no
charges brought, his killing is considered by the Mexican community to
have been an ordered assassination. Ironically, whoever caused his death
only succeeded in creating an instant martyr, where even today, as
Mexicans march to be heard the name of Ruben Salazar, though spoken
softly, is remembered most passionately.
On that fateful summer day producer Robert
Hendrickson and associate producer Leo Rivers were there to film the
Chicano Moratorium for possible footage to be used in the documentary
entitled MANSON. They filmed the march of tens of thousands from
Belvedere Park to Laguna Park without incident, but after the
demonstrators settled down to rest and picnic, without apparent cause,
numerous sheriff’s deputies stormed the park. TV news crews, for lack of
hard news, had left early. Hence, Hendrickson and Rivers were the only
ones to capture the ensuing riot on film.
With the news of Salazar being killed under
questionable circumstances, the film was quickly developed and a black
and white "dirty dupe" print was made. Because the film print was so
bad, not much was recognizable, which was assumed to be the result of
the camera f-stop being set in the wrong position. None the less,
Laurence Merrick, Hendrickson's associate on the MANSON project,
attempted to deal with certain law enforcement agencies concerning the
film. For lack of interest, or the result of Merrick's dealings, the
film was shelved and a few years later Merrick was murdered.
Some thirty years later, Hendrickson decided to
reassemble and have restored all of the original film taken during the
close to 3 year making of MANSON. To his total amazement, professional
restoration of the film onto beta high speed video tape provided clear
images of the footage taken on August 29, 1970. Apparently, the original
negative was exposed properly, but the "dirty dupe" was no good. Thus,
actual evidence regarding that controversial August day and relevant to
Salazar’s killing has been buried in a vault for over 35 years.
Now, to be included in the new MANSON II motion
picture, which documents the Vietnam War through Robert Hendrickson's
actual filming of the notorious Charles Manson Family, is the "East
Side" riots of 1970. Newsworthy now, the Ruben Salazar special segment,
as it will appear in the new MANSON movie, has just been posted for free
viewing on the Exclusivefilms.com website.
On August 29, 1970, the largest Mexican anti-Vietnam
War demonstration took place on the East Side of Los Angeles,
California, where these scenes were captured on film. Now, for the first
time, some of this controversial movie film (Salazar Special) is
available for viewing on ExclusiveFilms.com. The media may freely use
these photos, copyrighted 2006 TOBANN INTERNATIONAL PICTURES, where
proper credit is given to ExclusiveFilms.com.
