Officers from various neighboring departments and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department were called to Pharr to indiscriminately arrest young men found on the streets. The entire physical damage attributed to unknown members of the public by the Hidalgo County District Attorney was a damaged windshield to a fire truck. More than twenty young men would be arrested and most immediately released since they had been arrested without probable cause affidavits. Alonso Loredo Flores, a bystander would be shot and killed by a Sheriff’s deputy bullet.
1971 Pharr Riot Gallery
A History in Pictures
During The Riot
The Aftermath
A call to action issued by a coalition of organizations drew thousands to a protest march and the funeral of Alonso Loredo Flores. The public mass was conducted by Fr. Michael Allen and Fr. Roberto Flores. On the podium, from left to right are: Fr. Roberto Flores, Carlos Guerra, Natl. Pres., Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO), Beto Luera, Texas Pres., MAYO, Efrain Fernandez and Fr. Michael Allen. While awaiting trial, Efrain Fernandez would join Juan Maldonado and Antonio Garcia, candidates for city council in the neighboring city, San Juan.
