Strange rumblings in Aztlan
One of my favorite Hunter S. Thompson pieces was published in Rolling Stone magazine in April 1971. It discussed the killing of journalist Ruben Salazar as he sat in the Silver Dollar Bar in East Los Angeles during a Brown Power protest march.
Thompson discussed the article in a Rolling Stone interview on the 25th anniversary of the release of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
An excerpt from PJ O'Rourke's article on the anniversary:
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is also a sort of accident. It was a literary byproduct. In the midst of some intentional journalistic brilliance, Thompson had a happenstance of artistic genius. In 1971, Hunter was deeply and rather dangerously involved in writing about the killing of Chicano journalist Ruben Salazar. Hunter had a good source on the story, Mexican-American lawyer and political activist Oscar Acosta. But Oscar was surrounded by youthful hotheads paranoid of any connection to an Anglo, however sympathetic to the cause that the gabacho was supposed to be. So, Thompson suggested that he and Acosta take a weekend jaunt to Las Vegas. They'd have time to chat in private on the drive.
The rest is history. Sort of. Physics, anyway. Chemistry, definitely. Abnormal psych, for sure. Plus PE and lunch.
Salazar, an opinon writer and KMEX personality will be remembered with a stamp that will be issued Tuesday, according to LA Observed.
Here's an excerpt from the post there:
The journalist killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff's projectile during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War held on August 29, 1970 in East Los Angeles; will be honored with this postal stamp next week in Washington.
Comments
great article i remember it too
Posted by: Anonymous | April 19, 2008 10:08 AM
I love that movie, and have heard the story about Ruben Salazar, but didn't know the connection. Amazing. Thanks for posting that.
Posted by: Paul | April 19, 2008 6:48 PM
Missed you at the picnic :(
Posted by: AP | April 20, 2008 10:36 AM