While researching mass demonstrations in the 1960’s, I came across something I did not expect – the El Cajon Boulevard Riot.  I was eleven at the time and my family often went to the Campus Drive in on El Cajon Blvd near where the protest occurred.

The group was protesting the closure of Hourglass Field, an unused Navy airfield (near Miramar) where they had held unofficial drag races.  The US Navy had allowed the drag racing until four bystanders were injured during a race and shut it down.

The protest began on the evening of August 20.  A crowd of almost 3,000 blocked off three blocks of El Cajon Boulevard and began drag racing.  They left just enough room for cars to race by two a breast. Spectators lined the sidewalks and center island.

When more than 65 policemen arrived on the scene and tried to disperse the crowd, many of the protesters fought back.  They pelted offices with rock and bottles.  Then they attempted to overturn police cars.  It took three hours before the disturbance ended.

Sometimes, when doing research, I find amazing information I wasn’t even looking for.  This time it was in my own backyard!