"Fronteriza Rosa Parks" (Romo, 2005, p.225)
127, 173 Mexicans were exposed to this delousing process in 1917 alone (Romo, 2005, p.229). Among this massive number, one 17 year old girl refused to take a ‘gas bath’ and sparked a riot within the Mexican community.
On January 28, 1917 an auburn-haired Carmelita Torres was ordered by Custom officials to take the regulated ‘gas bath’ before she could continue into the U.S. Miss Torres, a servant who commuted to the United States every day, refused to do so. She was able to rally thirty other women in her trolley to riot against American authorities. By 8:30 a.m. 200 women were protesting with Carmelita Torres and by noon there were around a couple thousand (Romo, 2005, p.225).
The rioters blockaded streetcars, threw rocks, bottle, and debris at anyone who was American, ambushed trolley drivers and cars trying to pass through the mob, and some even laid down on the trolley tracks. American soldiers from Ft. Bliss were called upon to disperse the riot but they were not exempt from injuries inflicted by the mob. Mexican military authorities were soon called upon the scene, these men were known as the “el squadron de la muerte,” because they displayed the Murguía’s skull and crossbones flag with the notion of “take no prisoners” (Romo, 2005, p.225).
Some believed the riot was implemented by Villa sympathizers, as one Mexican laborer, José Marts Sánchez, proclaimed, “Viva Villa” (Romo, 2005, p.225). He was shot by four bullets and died on the scene, although Mexican General Garcia said the four shots fired were merely to “frighten rioters” (as cited in Long, 2008, p.3).
By the afternoon, Carmelita Torres was arrested and the riot was quieted.
The rioters blockaded streetcars, threw rocks, bottle, and debris at anyone who was American, ambushed trolley drivers and cars trying to pass through the mob, and some even laid down on the trolley tracks. American soldiers from Ft. Bliss were called upon to disperse the riot but they were not exempt from injuries inflicted by the mob. Mexican military authorities were soon called upon the scene, these men were known as the “el squadron de la muerte,” because they displayed the Murguía’s skull and crossbones flag with the notion of “take no prisoners” (Romo, 2005, p.225).
Some believed the riot was implemented by Villa sympathizers, as one Mexican laborer, José Marts Sánchez, proclaimed, “Viva Villa” (Romo, 2005, p.225). He was shot by four bullets and died on the scene, although Mexican General Garcia said the four shots fired were merely to “frighten rioters” (as cited in Long, 2008, p.3).
By the afternoon, Carmelita Torres was arrested and the riot was quieted.