Special Collections & University Archives: Lynching of Ethnic Mexicans (1915

In 1915, South Texas experienced its bloodiest year of racial violence against ethnic Mexicans perpetrated by Texas Rangers, United States Army, federal law enforcement officers, and local vigilante groups. Documented cases of lynchings include Lorenzo Manriquez (alleged resisting arrest), Gorgonio Manriquez (alleged resisting arrest), Adolfo Muñoz (alleged murder), Desiderio Flores, Sr. (alleged murder), Desiderio Flores, Jr. (alleged murder), Antonio Flores (alleged murder), Jesus Bazan (no crime), and Antonio Longoria (no crime), among many more. Yet, often times victims were unknown or lynchings went unreported, and those that were reported were rarely, if ever, investigated. However, that all changed in 1919 when Texas Representative J.T. Canales led a formal investigation into the criminal activities of the Texas Rangers in the Rio Grande Valley.